Oli vs Nepal disputes turning costly for UML-led provincial government

The growing rift between the two groups of the ruling CPN-UML—one led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and another by Madhav Kumar Nepal—is likely to culminate in dethroning of all the UML-led provincial governments.

The Karnali episode in which four assembly members of the Nepalled group voted for Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi of the Maoist Centre against the party instruction is likely to repeat in Lumbini, Bagmati, Gandaki and Province-1 because the cornered UML assembly members can vote against their own party leader. No confidence motions have already been registered in Gandaki and Lumbini, and the Gandaki government led by Prithvi Subba Gurung is almost sure to collapse next week. Although Lumbini’s Chief

Minister Shanker Pokharel managed to steal four of the Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal assembly members who had signed the no-confidence motion by inducting them into his cabinet, his government will collapse if a few UML lawmakers vote against

him or remain absent.

Likewise, Sherdhan Rai of Province-1 is also at risk of losing his position while Bagmati Province Chief Minister Dor Mani Paudel has already been at high risk.

Even the central government could collapse if NC and Maoist-Centre registered a noconfidence motion against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli because at least 30 lawmakers close to Nepal could cross the floor. Fearing this, PM Oli not only prorogued the House but initiated measures to expel the lawmakers close to Nepal.

Prime Minister Oli Tuesday sought clarification from 27 of its House of Representatives members, accusing them of acting against the party.

Oli has sent a letter to the party lawmakers seeking clarification as to why they should not be expelled from the parliament. The party has sought clarification from senior party leaders Jhanal Nath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Surendra Pandey, Bhim Rawal, Yogesh, Bhattarai and 22 other members of HoR.

A meeting of the so-called General Convention Organising Committee of the CPN-UML held on Monday had decided to seek final clarification from them.

The party has also sought clarification from four floorcrossing provincial assembly members, Prakash Jwala, Nanda Singh Buda, Amar Bahadur Thapa and Kurmaraj Shahi of Karnali province.

Earlier, the party had suspended four senior leaders, including Nepal, Rawal, Pandey and Ghanshyam Bhusal for six months for carrying out antiparty activities.