No trust motion registered in Nepal parliament against Oli

With Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli refusing to step down despite his coalition government having been reduced to a minority in the Nepali parliament following withdrawal of support by the CPN (Maoist Centre), the opposition Nepali Congress and the Maoist party on Wednesday filed a no-trust motion against him.

The CPN (Maoist Centre) headed by Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', key alliance partner in the government, on Tuesday withdrew support from the coalition government accusing Premier Oli of failing to implement several important points relating to the new constitution, delay in completing the peace process and failure to carry out reconstruction work following the April 25, 2015 earthquake.

After the Maoists pulled out support, it was expected that Oli will resign and pave the way for the formation of a new government.

But after holding meetings within the party and with other ruling alliance partners, Oli decided to face parliament rather than putting in his papers thus prompting the NC and Maoist to register the motion of no confidence against him.

Eight ministers, including a deputy PM, from the Maoist party who were part of Oli's council of ministers, earlier submitted their resignations to Oli.

NC chief whip Ishwari Neupane told media that a total of 245 Nepali Congress and Maoist parliamentarians have signed the no confidence motion registered in the parliament secretariat.

Nepal's Second Constituent Assembly, elected in 2013, presently functions as the country's parliament after approving the new Constitution on September 20 last year. In the 601-seat house, the Nepali Congress -- the largest group -- has 190 members while the Maoists have 80.

Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxists-Leninists) commands 175 seats.

Prior to filing the no trust motion, the Maoist had issued a three-hour ultimatum to Oli to resign but he refused.

A Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress also on Wednesday decided to register the no trust motion against Oli if he refuses to tender his resignation.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba briefed the CWC meeting about the agreement reached with the Maoists for power-sharing and why it was needed to replace Oli.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)

--IANS

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