CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli (left) and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. (File Photo)
KATHMANDU: The ongoing winter session of the Federal Parliament appears to be challenging for the government, as its plan to pass the six ordinances has not moved ahead even after a week since the first meeting of the session convened.
The ordinances have yet to be included in the parliamentary agenda.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has the support of 188 out of 265 members in the House of Representatives. However, despite its numerical strength, the government is struggling to pass the ordinances.
In Nepal’s bicameral parliament, bills have to be passed by both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. While the Oli government faces no hurdles in the lower house, securing the required numbers in the National Assembly is proving difficult. The ruling coalition has 29 – 16 from Nepali Congress, 10 from CPN-UML, one from Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) and two nominated members – out of 59 seats in the National Assembly. However, there is uncertainty over whether nominated Bamdev Gautam will support the ordinance, say UML leaders.
The Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal, which has three seats in the upper house, has not yet decided whether it will vote to pass the ordinances.
The opposition alliance, which has 26 lawmakers—17 from CPN (Maoist Center), eight from CPN (Unified Socialist) and one from Rastriya Janamorcha (1)—has clearly stated that it will not support the ordinances. Maoist Center Whip Hit Raj Pandey said it would not be appropriate to support them. “We will oppose the ordinances,” he added.
Maoist Center Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has publicly declared that the ordinances won’t be passed. Beduram Bhusal of Unified Socialist has also been saying that the ordinances should not be passed.
This places JSP Chairperson Upendra Yadav in a position to negotiate for a greater share in power. Senior leaders of NC and UML have already held talks with Yadav. Yadav and his party, however, has not taken a decision yet.
As per the constitution, an ordinance must be passed by the President within 60 days of the start of the session.
JSP leader Purna Basnet said discussions were ongoing regarding the ordinances. “The ruling coalition has sent us proposals. But we have not reached a decision yet,” said Purna Basnet, the chief of Publicity Department of JSP.
UML leaders say no party other than JSP is likely to support the ordinance. UML’s plan of seeking support of the Maoist Center failed after a telephone conversation between its General Secretary Shankar Pokharel and Maoist Center Deputy General Secretary Barshaman Pun was made public by Pun.
Political analysts say the government is failing to garner the required support to pass Bills because of its weaknesses. “The government appears strong on paper but ineffective in action,” said political analyst Krishna Pokharel.
