KATHMANDU: Deputy Speaker Dr. Shivamaya Tumbahamphe has clarified that she would not resign from the post of Deputy-Speaker until the Nepal Communist Party requests her for carrying out the election after finalizing the candidate for the post of Speaker.

Deputy-Speaker Tumbahamphe said, “We have to consider the Constitution’s spirit of not leaving the Speaker’s post vacant. I am not in a mentality to leave the House of Representatives without leadership by tendering resignation from the post of Deputy-Speaker until the party finalizes the name of the candidate.”

Deputy-Speaker Tumbahamphe rejected a letter sent by the NCP’s Secretariat requesting her to resign from the post.

She said that it is not in accordance with the Constitution to issue directive by any political party to any individual, leading the important body like parliament due to different contexts, asking to step down from the post.

Recalling that she even left the general membership of the party after her election to the post of Deputy-Speaker, Tumbahamphe said, “I should give leadership to the House of Representatives in an independent manner. I am doing this.”

She further said, “Political parties have not still forwarded candidacy to the post, I will tender resignation from the post in course of forwarding election process to the Speaker post at the HoR meeting. The election process will move ahead. I have to fulfill my duty as per the Constitution.”

The Deputy-Speaker further said that she knew from the media that the NCP issued a directive to her to step down.