New Delhi: In a fresh development, the ruling Nepal Communist Party’s Central Committee faction chose Madhav Kumar Nepal as its chairman and removed Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli from the party after it had separate central committee meetings on Tuesday. 315 Central Committee Members have voted in favour of Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher's bench is scheduled to hear a plea filed against the dissolution of the Parliament from Wednesday.PM Oli had recommended the dissolution of the Parliament on Monday. Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari ratified PM Oli's proposal for the dissolution of Parliament and announced election dates.
Experts believe that a split in the ruling NCP is expected and the appointment of Madhav Nepal can certainly end the thaw in the bilateral relation between India and Nepal.
In conversation with ETV Bharat, former ambassador Jitendra Kumar Tripathi said, “The Himalayan nation of Nepal is currently reeling under political turbulences. Stubborn resistance against KP Sharma Oli has been developing within the party, which culminated in Madhav Kumar Nepal being the next chairman of the NCP. Meanwhile, the politburo members with 135 majority, recommended disciplinary action against KP Sharma Oli”.
“In the last election when NCP attained victory and two communist factions unified to form a government, it was decided that there will be two co-chairpersons and two co Prime Ministers. Oli's refusal to resign and pave way for the Party President Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) ended up in a tussle within the party. Oli's utterances against India, closeness with China and his initiation of border issues with India in Kalapani reflects the rift. It alienated India. Protests erupted from not only cadres from the party but also public at large. In a demonstration against Oli everybody said that Oli has crossed his limits”, ambassador Tripathi points out.
What it would mean for India?
“Oli’s move to aggravate India was neither diplomatically nor politically a good move. But as Madhav Nepal is back now, changes are expected. He is a soft-spoken leader than Oli or Prachanda. Madhav is inclined towards India and as the Parliament has been dissolved, the new equation might form after the election," said Tripathi.
"Certainly, Oli is not coming back even if the NCP comes back to power, which is in my opinion quite unlikely given the recent dissatisfaction or opposition of public at large. Firstly, we will have to see whether the Communist Party comes to power or not. Secondly, even if NCP comes to power, KP Sharma Oli is not going to be the Prime Minister but it is likely that Madhav Kumar Nepal would be chosen by the party if the NCP comes into power”, Tripathi explained.
He said if Madhav Nepal becomes the Prime Minister, the next logical step taken by the government would be to curb the thaw between Nepal and India. India attempted to resolve the issues as Foreign Secretaries and other leaders visited the country for talks. Hopefully, the new government would establish a relationship with a better understanding between the two countries.it would heal the wounds that had been inflicted on the bilateral relationship during the KP Sharma Oli led government, according to Tripathi.
India and Nepal were engaged in a diplomatic tussle after the Himalayan nation released a map which showed parts of India in Nepal’s territory. The decision to dissolve the Lower House, an unprecedented move, had enraged the public as well as Oli’s party members. Everyone awaits the decision of Nepal’s Supreme Court. A total of 12 writ petitions have been filed in the apex court, claiming it to be unconstitutional.
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Kathmandu denouncing the latest move by PM Oli and an early election as a constitutional coup.
Also read: Indian envoy calls on Nepal minister to discuss India-assisted projects
