Three parties absent in the high-level political mechanism meeting, Oli exerts pressure on Dahal to bring RSP onboard the government

KATHMANDU, Feb 11: The chasm of mistrust in the ruling coalition led by the Maoist center is deepening as the presidential election date is fast approaching. A meeting of the high-level political mechanism led by UML President KP Oli was held at the Prime Minister's Residence, Baluwatar, on Friday morning. However, Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Chairman Upendra Yadav as well as top leaders of ruling Nagarik Unmukti Party and Janmat Party were absent in the meeting. The Far West government led by the UML collapsed only on Thursday when the Nagarik Unmukti Party lawmakers did not vote. In addition to Prime Minister Dahal, UML Chairman Oli, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Rajendra Lingden participated in the meeting. Janmaat, JSP and Nagarik Unmukti Party had also signed in the application submitted to President Bidhya Devi Bhandari for the appointment of Dahal as new prime minister on December 25, 2022.

In the meeting, UML Chairman Oli asked Prime Minister Dahal to make the RSP participate in the government and give the Ministry of Home Affairs to the party. On January 27, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an order against RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, who was found guilty in citizenship case. After the Supreme Order, Lamichhane lost his position as a member of the House of Representatives, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Lamichhane was about to return to the same responsibility after obtaining citizenship, while Oli had been constantly putting pressure on Prime Minister Dahal. But Dahal stood against giving that responsibility to Lamichhane or his party. Dahal repeated the same issue on Friday. He said that Lamichhane did not accept his request not to leave the government.

Absence of other parties increased mistrust as there were suspicions and doubts among the participating leaders that the Sudurpaschim government had fallen and its influence would not end. Dissatisfied with the expansion of the cabinet and the distribution of ministerial portfolios, the JSP Chairman did not participate in the meeting on January 16.

The meeting lasted for some time while waiting for him. But Yadav did not go to Baluwatar. Dahal, Chairman of the Maoist Center and Prime Minister, reiterated the idea that the President should be a shared post and strive for national consensus. Dahal proposed that efforts should be made to achieve national consensus saying that it would be very good. 

However, UML President Oli repeated his old words saying that the matter including the President had already been agreed on December 25. He was of the opinion that the crisis of confidence has increased by saying that the Far West government formed under the leadership of UML collapsed when the parties opposed to the previous agreement were active. After the meeting of the House of Representatives, UML Chairman Oli gave a brief response to the coalition government and said, "Let's see.”

Oli, who understood that the Maoist was not in favor of supporting the candidate as per the previous agreement, spoke to the Chairman of the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP) Mahanth Thakur on Friday. Sources claim that Oli, who understood that Thakur could be promoted to the presidency by the party including the Maoist center, spoke to him on the same theme. However, the names of leaders including Constituent Assembly President Subash Chandra Nemwang, Senior Vice President Ishwor Pokharel, Keshav Badal and Astalaxmi Shakya are in discussion on behalf of UML. It is also said that Oli may promote former minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, who is also the former ambassador of China, to the presidency in order to embarrass Prime Minister Dahal. The Maoist Center is in favor of promoting former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha or similar person.

The Nepali Congress, which is in the opposition by giving a vote of confidence to Dahal as the Prime Minister, is in favor of making its leader the President with the support of the Maoists. The establishment party, along with Chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba, is in favor of continuing the Dahal-led government and moving forward. Sources claim that a dialogue has been initiated through General Minister Gagan Thapa to reassure Dahal from other parties as well. Thapa has started discussions with various levels of Maoist leaders including Prime Minister Dahal. Dissatisfied with giving a vote of confidence to Dahal as the prime minister, Thapa had insisted that the Nepali Congress candidate would become the president at an event held in the capital. NC leader Ramchandra Poudel is seen as a possible presidential candidate, while the names of former Chief Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Gopal Man Shrestha and former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana are also in discussion.

 
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