KATHMANDU: Tensions have deepened between ruling coalition partners Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, with friction now spreading from Singha Durbar to Sheetal Niwas.
The alliance, formed under a seven-point agreement to run the government on a rotational basis, is now facing disagreements on three major issues: the land-related bill, the “cooling-off period” in the civil service bill, and the Constitutional Council amendment.
The most recent flashpoint was the withdrawal of the bill to amend the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers and Procedures) Act, 2066. Nepali Congress leaders, including Dr. Shekhar Koirala, publicly pressured President Ram Chandra Paudel to withhold authentication, arguing that the bill violated the party’s core democratic values.
“This issue strikes at the heart of the Nepali Congress,” Koirala said during a program on BP Memorial Day, criticizing the party leadership’s decision to impose a whip in support of the bill. The President returned the bill to the House of Representatives, urging further discussion and debate, citing the need for deeper analysis by the Federal Parliament.
The second point of contention involves the Federal Civil Service Bill, particularly the provision of a two-year “cooling-off period” before civil servants can engage in political activities or appointments.
Nepali Congress, which had earlier stayed away from the bill’s initial discussion, consulted senior advocate Yadunath Khanal before proposing changes. The party wants stricter regulation to prevent misuse of land exemptions and to stop companies from engaging in real estate activities under other pretexts.
While the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of the House had unanimously endorsed this provision, UML lawmakers registered an amendment in the National Assembly to remove it.
The Nepali Congress, viewing this move as a betrayal, formally objected during a party meeting in Budhanilkantha. Dr. Koirala accused the UML of double standards and called the amendment “a betrayal of the country, people, democracy, and the coalition.”
The third dispute revolves around the bill to amend certain Nepal Acts related to land. Nepali Congress general secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma submitted amendment proposals opposing provisions that would allow real estate companies to retain land previously exempted for agricultural or industrial use but left unused or repurposed.
Nepali Congress, which had earlier stayed away from the bill’s initial discussion, consulted senior advocate Yadunath Khanal before proposing changes. The party wants stricter regulation to prevent misuse of land exemptions and to stop companies from engaging in real estate activities under other pretexts.
During Friday’s meeting of Nepali Congress office bearers and former officials, leader Arjun Narsingh KC confirmed that internal disagreements over the land bill were also raised.
The disputes highlight growing mistrust between the coalition partners and raise concerns about the stability of the ruling alliance ahead of the next elections.
KC stated that party leaders raised the need to review the bill, expressing concern that it could negatively impact Dalits, marginalized communities, and the general public.
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