KATHMANDU: Main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) is holding office-bearers’ meeting Friday morning to discuss the latest political developments in the country.
The meeting which is underway at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s residence in Budhanilkantha is dwelling on the possible steps the party can take on President Bidya Bhandari’s call to form a new government, said Deputy General Secretary Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat.
NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel, Vice President Bimalendra Nidhi, General Secretary duo Dr Shashanka Koirala and Purna Bahadur Khadka, Treasure Sita Devi Yadav, former Vice President Gopal Man Shrestha, Former General Secretary duo Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Prakash Man Singh, Deputy General Secretary Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, central member Ramesh Lekhak, Chief Whip Bal Krishna Khad among other are present in the meeting.
Former and incumbent office-bearers of the NC are attending the meeting called that began at 9:50 am.
The meeting has been called after the President gave Friday 5 pm deadline today for political parties to stake claim for government.
Meanwhile, the NC has criticized both Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and President Bidya Devi Bhandari’s move to call the Members of Parliament (MPs) to form the government pursuant to Article 76 (5) of the Constitution.
Issuing a press note on Thursday, President Bhandari called on the MPs to form a new government under Article 76 (5) of the constitution on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Thursday recommended the President to initiate the process after he himself did not see strong grounds to gain parliament’s confidence as stated by Article 76 (4).
Thus, paving the way for anyone who could garner majority support, the President has called on members of political parties to come forward with their claims for new government formation.
Oli was appointed Prime Minister as per Article 76 (3) of the constitution and Artice 76 (4) requires PM to win a vote of confidence. If the PM appointed as Article 76 (3) cannot gain a vote of confidence within thirty days then the President must call on any other HoR member to stake a claim for the government.
If nobody stakes claim to form government by 5 pm Friday, the country will likely go for mid-term polls as provisioned in the constitution.
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