KATHMANDU, Oct 22: The government’s plan to introduce an ordinance that paves the way for splitting the political party has been shelved amid concerns that the move could unite all opposition parties including CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) against the government.
A cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday to take a decision to this effect was put off at the last hour amid fear that such a move at this point of time could further strengthen the ongoing protest of RSP. The party has intensified protest against the government over the arrest of its Chairman Rabi Lamichhane.
“The government is cautious not to create an environment wherein Maoist Center and CPN (Unified Socialist) will decide to join the ongoing protest activities of the RSP,” said a cabinet minister, asking not to be named.
Sources earlier claimed that Prime Minister KP Oli planned to introduce the ordinance after he held a meeting with Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday evening. The agreement between UML and the NC is a must to introduce any new ordinance.
Internal rift within NCP grows as PM decides to introduce ordin...
After the Kaski District Court granted six days to investigate Rabi Lamichhane from the date of his arrest, there has been speculation that the government's focus is on issuing an ordinance related to party division.
"The meeting between the leaders of the two parties running the government should not be taken otherwise; they might have discussed future strategies. There is a possibility that the upcoming Cabinet meeting will make some new decisions," said an official from the CPN-UML.
According to sources, there is speculation that an ordinance related to party split may be introduced, considering the situation after the arrest of RSP Chairman Lamichhane.
Section 33(3) of the Political Parties Act, 2073 BS states that a new party formed by at least 40 percent of the members of the central committee and parliamentary party of the federal parliament cannot undergo a split for five years from the date it is recognized by the Election Commission.
The legal provision allowing at least 40 percent of the members of the central committee and parliamentary party of any party in the federal parliament to form a new party was amended through an ordinance on August 18, 2021. The ordinance at that time included a provision allowing a new party to be formed with just 20 percent of members from either the central committee or the parliamentary party. Now, plans are afoot to bring an ordinance by amending both of these provisions.
Leaders from the Unified Socialist Party, the CPN (Maoist Center), and the Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal, are also discussing the government's plan to introduce an ordinance regarding party division for the past few weeks.
According to a leader from the Unified Socialist Party, Prime Minister Oli is in the final stages of preparing to introduce an ordinance related to political parties. Sources claim that the ordinance for party division is being brought to include leaders and lawmakers who are active in forming a new party by separating from the CPN (Unified Socialist).
Sources indicate that lawmakers from the CPN (Unified Socialist) are poised to join the UML and are in regular contact with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. It is claimed that CPN (Unified Socialist) lawmakers such as Kisan Shrestha, Prem Bahadur Ale, and Amar Thapa are preparing to split from their party and integrate into the CPN-UML. Sources also suggest that leaders like Ram Kumari Jhakri are seeking opportunities to enter the UML.
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