Resignation timing comes as surprise

KATHMANDU, June 30: Though it has been a long time since Prime Minister Madhav Nepal expressed his intention to step down, his resignation was not expected to come on Wednesday. Even his coalition partners and cabinet colleagues did not know until 2 p.m. about his decision to resign.

Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel said that the prime minister informed him about his decision only at 3 pm. [break]

The prime minister had not even shared his decision with cabinet colleagues though they had met him during a cabinet meeting Wednesday morning.

Sources said the prime minister first held a meeting with the ministers from his party at around 2:15 p.m. and told them that he was going to resign in the evening.

He then met with Deputy Prime Ministers Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar and Sujata Koirala at his office at Singha Durbar at 3 p.m. to disclose his decision to them. Only after that did other cabinet members learn that the prime minister was resigning in the evening.

“He is 57 years old and still has a long political career ahead of him. He did not want to remain in the post any longer in view of his future political career,” said the prime minister´s cabinet colleague, Culture Minister Dr Minendra Rijal, when asked about the resignation decision.

Sources said that the prime minister reached the conclusion that he should quit the post as soon as possible after the leadership of his party piled pressure on him a couple of days ago to step down.

Related News: PM quits ´to end deadlock´

The sources added that he had informed senior leaders of the coalition parties a couple of days ago that he would resign soon. But he had not said when he would put in his papers.

The prime minister then went straight to the UML party headquarters at Balkhu to attend a party standing committee meeting called to discuss his resignation. Then he rushed to his official residence at Baluwatar, leaving the standing committee meeting midway, to attend the last cabinet meeting scheduled for 5 p.m.

Leaders of the coalition partners were also invited to the meeting. He announced his resignation at 6 p.m. in a televised address.

PM´s last day

Early morning: Tells his aides that he is going to resign

11:00 am: Chairs a cabinet meeting, but does not share his plan

2:15 pm: Meets a few confidante UML ministers to tell that he is going to resign in the evening

3:00 pm: Calls NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel and informs about his plan

3:00 pm: Holds meeting with DPMs Bijaya Gachhadar and Sujata Koirala

3:30 pm: Attends standing committee meeting of CPN-UML and tells party chairman Jhala Nath Khanal that he is quitting. Leaves the meeting midway for his residence

5:00 pm: Holds a meeting with cabinet colleagues and senior leaders of the coalition partners

6:00 pm: Announces resignation in a televised address

7:00 pm: Hands over his resignation to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav