KATHMANDU, July 4: The Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML have jointly called for Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to step down from the post to pave the way for the formation of a new government. 

While the UML on Tuesday asked PM Dahal to step down so that a new government could be formed as per the agreement reached between the NC and the UML, the NC on Thursday said that there is no ground for the prime minister to stay in the post any further as he no longer enjoys a majority in parliament. 

Talking to media persons in Biratnagar on Thursday, NC General Secretary Gagan Thapa advised PM Dahal to step down and pave the way for forming a new government.

Thapa said it would be appropriate for Prime Minister Dahal to resign from the post and pave the way for forming a new government especially after the government's major coalition partner withdrew support and left the government.

Claiming the NC' significant contribution to the establishment of a federal democratic republic system, Thapa spoke of the need for a constitutional amendment. The NC is committed to making it happen through all-side participation, he added.

"An amendment to the constitution seems essential to have political stability," he said, adding that the two largest parties in parliament - the NC and the CPN-UML - are progressing towards the formation of a national consensus government in the current special situation.

However, despite the call from both the NC and the UML to step down, Prime Minister Dahal remains adamant to remain in power. Prime Minister Dahal on Thursday convinced ministers representing the Rabi Lamichhane-led Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) not to resign when they reached his official residence to submit their resignation.

All four ministers from the RSP returned from the residence of the Prime Minister, Baluwatar, without resigning on Thursday after PM Dahal convinced them to stay with him.

The RSP ministers, who had reached Baluwatar to submit their resignations, returned without resigning after a conversation with Prime Minister Dahal. Santosh Pariyar, chief whip of the RSP, said that the ministers did not resign after PM Dahal said he would face a vote of confidence in parliament.

The ministers including RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, who serves as the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Dol Prasad Aryal, Minister for Labor and Employment; Sumana Shrestha, Minister for Education; and Birajbhakta Shrestha, Minister for Youth and Sports, had reached Baluwatar with their resignation letters.

The decision of RSP ministers to step down from their posts came a day after the UML withdrew its support to the government and the ministers representing the party resigned en masse.

The Dahal-led government has fallen into minority after the UML forged an alliance with the NC, severing its ties with the Maoist Center.

UML urges PM Dahal to avoid long-term decisions

KATHMANDU, July 5: The CPN-UML has urged Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal not to make decisions with long-term implications, citing his loss of majority in parliament. In a press statement issued on Thursday, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel emphasized the importance of refraining from actions that could have lasting effects.

The party asserted that PM Dahal cannot secure a vote of confidence, pointing to the alliance between the UML and the Nepali Congress. Earlier, eight CPN-UML ministers resigned en masse, withdrawing their support to the Dahal-led government.

Consequently, PM Dahal is now required to seek a vote of confidence within 30 days.

 
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