KATHMANDU, July 15: Ruling coalition partners Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML have sought the support of Upendra Yadav, chair of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) to fast-track the controversial land-related bill through Parliament.
The bill, which had been scheduled for clause-wise discussion last Wednesday, was withdrawn from the agenda after opposition from several NC lawmakers, including Bishwo Prakash Sharma, and expressions of dissatisfaction from JSP on social media.
On Monday evening, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba held talks with Yadav at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar to garner his support for the bill and to request that his party not withdraw its backing of the government.
DPM Upendra Yadav moving to Madhesh CM's residence
During the hour-long meeting, Prime Minister Oli urged Yadav not to act in opposition, stating that delays in passing the land bill would send a negative message. He also implied that political forces were trying to exploit the bill for their own gains. “If you take a responsible position, this political game will end and we can create an atmosphere of cooperation,” Oli reportedly told Yadav, according to a participant in the meeting.
Both Oli and Deuba proposed collaboration with Yadav, who responded by requesting support for certain issues raised by his party, though the specifics of those issues were not disclosed.
Earlier, on June 22, the JSP’s executive committee had decided to withdraw its support from the government, though a formal decision from its parliamentary party had not yet been made. In this context, Oli and Deuba invited Yadav to Baluwatar in a last-ditch effort to convince him to remain aligned with the ruling coalition.
Monday’s meeting included Prime Minister and UML Chair Oli, NC President Deuba, JSP Chair Yadav, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Maoist Center Senior Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Rimal and JSP Executive Committee Member Raj Kishor Yadav.