NC to act as 'watchdog'

Published On: March 12, 2018 07:00 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

'NC to give Oli the benefit of the doubt for the first 100 days'

KATHMANDU, Mar 12: The Nepali Congress, which voted against Prime Minister KP Oli in parliament on Sunday, said that the party would remain in opposition and serve as a watchdog for the next five years. However, the party has clarified that it will not be too critical of the government during the honeymoon phase.

NC and the Nepal Workers and Peasents Party were only two political parties which voted against Prime Minister Oli as over two-thirds lawmakers in parliament gave their vote of the confidence to the left government.

Before seeking the trust vote, Prime Minister Oli had urged all political parties in parliament for their support. But NC declined the request saying it would be against the parliamentary practice. The party said that it would objectively analyze the work of Prime Minister Oli and support the government based on its strengths and weakness.

Addressing the parliament before voting started on Sunday, NC's deputy parliamentary party leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar said that the second largest party would remain the watchdog of the government. He, however, clarified that the NC would given the government the benefit of the doubt for the first 100 days.

"We will see the government's performance in the first 100 days. We will see to what extent the prime minister will deliver on his promises. NC will remain as a watchdog," said Gachchhadar, while declining Oli's request for support.

Gachchhadar's announcement to watch the government's performance until the honeymoon period comes at a time when many NC leaders are calling for greater scrutiny of the work of the government.

Last week, NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba had said that the new government had lost moral ground to get the benefit of the doubt even for the first 100 days, which is considered as honeymoon period.

Gachhadhar also told the parliament that the main opposition would closely watch each and every activities of the new government. The activities, he added, would be supported or opposed based on merit.