KATHMANDU: The ordinances issued before the parliamentary session have encountered significant challenges, as the coalition government, which holds a near two-thirds majority, struggles to gain support.
Without the backing of Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal (JSP) Chairman Upendra Yadav, these ordinances are likely to fail in the National Assembly.
Although the government holds a majority in the House of Representatives, all three JSP MPs in the National Assembly could oppose the ordinances, risking their failure.
If the government, already under pressure from the main opposition Maoist Center and the Rastriya Swatantra Party, fails to pass the ordinances, it could lead to a moral crisis.
To prevent this, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba reached out to JSP leaders last Thursday for support. However, JSP decided on Tuesday not to back the land-related ordinance out of the six proposed.
JSP has not yet confirmed its support for the other five ordinances, but it has maintained its bargaining power, suggesting it could potentially back them.
This issue was also discussed in his meeting with Prime Minister Oli and Nepali Congress President Deuba last Thursday, where JSP leaders requested either the Home or Health Ministry at the center and the Chief Minister’s position in the provinces.
JSP Chairman Yadav has made it clear that his party will not support the land ordinance under any circumstances.
After the party’s decision, Yadav said, “We are not eager to join the government. We will not support the land ordinance under any circumstances.
Even if it is amended, it remains unacceptable and requires significant improvements.”
The five ordinances were approved by the Council of Ministers and sent to President Ram Chandra Poudel for certification.
These included amendments to various Nepal Acts on governance, public service delivery, financial procedures, privatization, and the economic environment, in addition to the land-related ordinance.
Though President Poudel initially withheld the “Ordinance to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Land, 2081,” he eventually issued it after reviewing it for two days. JSP Nepal has now declared that it will only support ordinances unrelated to land issues.
The party has indicated that it remains open to negotiation, leaving room for further discussions.
While the Nepali Congress and UML may not face immediate consequences if the ordinances fail, the government could face a moral crisis, potentially leading to instability when the new fiscal year’s budget is presented.
As a result, the two leading parties are trying to convince Upendra Yadav to support the ordinances. If Yadav decides to join the opposition, the situation could become more complex. However, the Maoist Center and other opposition parties lack the capacity to form an alternative government.
Still, if Madhes-centric parties like Janamat, JSP, JSP Nepal, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, and Nagarik Unmukti unite, the government may face difficulties in both houses.
These Madhes-centric parties have formed a loose alliance, forcing the government to engage with smaller parties. This could lead to the government being forced to withdraw the land-related ordinance.
Yadav Claims Government is Not Serious
JSP Chairman Yadav has accused the government of not taking the ordinance seriously. “The government is assuming it has 60 days to pass the ordinance, which is why it hasn’t shown urgency,” Yadav told Khabarhub.
“We called for a parliamentary party meeting on Magh 24, but after the ordinance was removed from the agenda, we planned a discussion on Saturday. The government ignored us, which led to our decision on Tuesday.”
Yadav also criticized the lack of consultation with JSP before the ordinance was issued, calling the negotiations between JSP leaders, ministers, and the Chief Minister “a farce.”
“Some Congress and UML leaders spread false rumors and gave misleading information to the media,” he said. “They didn’t ask us to join the government, or we would have made Deuba, Oli, and our MP Rajkishore Yadav witnesses.”
A total of 30 votes are needed for a majority in the 60-member National Assembly, including the Chairman. The government now faces the challenge of securing those 3 critical votes to pass the ordinance.
Yadav reiterated that JSP is not against the ordinance, but believes it requires proper discussion.
“We will support the government based on its merits. We don’t need a ministry, and our leaders are not interested in becoming ministers,” Yadav added.
This issue was also discussed in his meeting with Prime Minister Oli and Nepali Congress President Deuba last Thursday, where JSP leaders requested either the Home or Health Ministry at the center and the Chief Minister’s position in the provinces.
Amidst these discussions, the government is struggling to secure the necessary votes in the National Assembly.
The ruling Nepali Congress has 16 MPs, the UML has 10, and the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party has 1 MP. If Anjan Shakya, a nominated MP, supports the government, it would bring the total to 28 votes in favor of the ordinance. However, another nominated MP, Bamdev Gautam, is still undecided.
If 3 MPs from JSP Nepal support the ordinance, the government will achieve a clear majority.
A total of 30 votes are needed for a majority in the 60-member National Assembly, including the Chairman. The government now faces the challenge of securing those 3 critical votes to pass the ordinance.
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