KATHMANDU, July 14: Parties organized under the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) have said they will vote no confidence against the KP Sharma Oli-led government in parliament but will not join the new government until their demands are met.
Altogether 280 lawmakers on Wednesday registered a no confidence motion in parliament after Prime Minister Oli refused to resign despite the CPN (Maoist Center) quitting his government to form a new coalition with Nepali Congress. Following this, the UDMF leaders met on Wednesday and decided to support the no confidence motion. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had also visisted the UDMF leaders during the meeting and sought their support for toppling the Oli-led government and forming a new government.
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"This incompetent government led by KP Sharma Oli had to go and now it's going. We will support the motion to remove this government from power," said Upendra Yadav, the chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN).
"However, there is no possibility of our joining the new government. If CPN (Maoist Center) and NC ask for support to form a new government, we want clear response from them on our demands including the rewriting of the constitution," he added.
Sadbhavana Party Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna said that the Madhes-based parties were against the Oli-led government since its inception. "We are clear that we will vote against the Oli government and support the no confidence motion. In the meantime, we will not join the new government unless our demands are met," said Karna.
Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) lawmaker Brijesh Kumar Gupta claimed that the entire Madhes does not care who forms the government and is concerned about Madhes demands.
"This government was apathetic toward Madhes. We had voted against it and supported Sushil Koirala's bid for premiership. We will vote no confidence against the current government but joining the new government amidst our protest program would not be possible," said Gupta.
The UDMF, which staged protests for five months in the Tarai-Madhes, joined hands with other fringe ethnic-based parties to form the Federal Alliance and launched Kathmandu-centric protests after it was criticized for blocking the border and supplies.
