BIRATNAGAR: The CPN-UML has urged the Koshi government to retract the recently issued ordinance.

During a press conference in Biratnagar on Monday, the UML Koshi Parliamentary Party demanded the withdrawal of the controversial ordinance, warning that its persistence could lead to a failure in the parliament.

Rewati Raman Bhandari, the chief whip of UML, emphasized that immediate withdrawal of the ordinance is essential to prevent its forceful failure.

He criticized the amendment to the law allowing a party with only one Member of Parliament in the province to receive vehicle facilities, calling it objectionable.

Bhandari expressed discontent, highlighting that such practices, not observed in other provinces, are being implemented through ordinances in the Koshi province.

Chief Minister Kedar Karki had increased the number of state assembly officials through the ordinance, paving the way to provide vehicles and additional facilities to leaders of the ruling coalition. This increase was facilitated by amending Section 2 of Act on Service of Officials and Members of Provincial Assembly 2075.

Following the ordinance, former Chief Ministers Uddhav Thapa and Rajendra Rai are now eligible for vehicle facilities. Leaders such as Indra Bahadur Angbo (Maoist Center parliamentary party leader), Bhakti Sitaula (Rastriya Prajatantra Party parliamentary party leader), and Nirmala Limbu (Janata Samajbadi Party parliamentary party leader) have also become eligible for vehicle facilities.

Chief Minister Kedar Karki initially attempted to provide vehicles to former Chief Ministers Uddhav Thapa and Rajendra Rai. However, due to disagreements from employees, he resorted to amending the Act through an ordinance.

Earlier, Chief Minister Karki had stressed that the services provided by the government, based on decisions, had been regulated by law. He clarified that despite adding the definition of officials, additional facilities would not be extended to officials.