Santosh Story Draft

Santosh Adhikari 10 Jan 2025
Santosh Story Draft

KAHMANDU: The Nepali Congress (NC) has become suspicious of Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli’s motive after he stated that constitutional amendments won’t happen before 2030.

Addressing his party’s Central Committee meeting in Lalitpur on December 7, Oli said that constitutional amendments would be possible only in 2030. NC leaders are now expressing objections to his statement.

Amending constitution is one point of the seven-point agreement that NC and UML signed on July 1. The new coalition government with Oli as the Prime Minister was formed on the foundation of that agreement.

NC leaders have now accused Oli of making statements contrary to the agreement reached between the two parties.

“Constitutional amendments will only happen in 2030. You have seen the numbers in the National Assembly. We are still in favor of getting the required two-thirds majority for constitutional amendments. But it’s not possible right now due to the National Assembly. We will make amend the constitution, but in 2030,” Oli said in the Central Committee meeting.

NC General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma has expressed dissatisfaction with Oli’s statement, stating that the Prime Minister set the date for amendment without cnsulting the NC. Speaking at an event in his home district Jhapa on January 8, Sharma said he disagrees with Prime Minister Oli’s recent statement regarding constitutional amendments. “Consultations have begun on constitutional amendments. It is written in the seven-point agreement. When making constitutional amendments, we need to study expecetations of the parties and people,” Sharma said. “I have heard what the Prime Minister said. If he meant constitutional amendments will happen only in 2030, I humbly but seriously disagree with him.”

Sharma urged Oli to remember the agreement made between NC and UML on July 1. “Without the support of CPN (Maoist Center), we won’t have the two-thirds majority needed for constitutional amendments. But we are not in a position to back down just because we do not have the numbers,” Sharma said. “But neither you (Prime Minister), nor our party president said that we alone would make constitutional amendments.”

The NC General Secretary also emphasized the need to take all political parties into confidence for constitutional amendments. “Even if amendments are to happen in 2030, this can only be decided after discussions between NC and UML,” Sharma said. “The UML Chairperson doesn’t have the right to unilaterally declare constitutional amendments will happen in 2030 holding any discussion.”

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Another Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC criticized Oli’s statement as disrespectful to the seven-point agreement. Speaking at a Prithvi Jayanti event in Kathmandu on Poush 25, KC accused Prime Minister Oli of disrespecting the seven-point agreement by stating amendments would only happen in 2087.

KC stated that while the final conclusions about constitutional amendments could come later, the process should begin now. He emphasized the need to cooperate not just with parties in Parliament but with all sides for constitutional amendments.

KC suggested forming an all-party mechanism since two parties alone cannot amend the constitution. He said it was objectionable for the Prime Minister to declare in the party’s Central Committee meeting that amendments would only happen in Magh 2087.

Another Congress leader NP Saud said Oli had raised the constitutional amendment issue through a unilateral decision contrary to the two-party agreement. Speaking at a party program in Bardiya on Thursday, Saud said Congress needs to reconsider the relevance and context of the coalition given Prime Minister Oli’s recent statements.

“When we formed the coalition, we acknowledged some weaknesses in the constitution. We included a point about amending these and expressed commitment to it,” Saud said. “The Prime Minister, who expressed commitment to this agreement, has now stated amendments will happen in 2087 – this goes against the agreement made to form the government. This requires Congress to reconsider the relevance and context of the coalition.”

Although Congress and UML included constitutional amendments in their agreement while forming the government, they haven’t taken any initiative even after 6 months in power. However, the two parties have agreed to move forward by forming a joint task force for constitutional amendments. Constitutional amendments require two-thirds support in both the House of Representatives and National Assembly.

Since the government has raised the constitutional amendment issue, parties like the National Independent Party and CPN (Unified Socialist) have formed task forces to prepare. The main opposition party CPN-Maoist Centre, while not forming a task force, has set an agenda demanding inclusion of direct presidential elections in the constitution.

Prime Minister Oli has stated it will take time to build consensus as some parties in Parliament remain opposed to amendments. In a meeting with RPP Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa on Friday, Oli indicated amendments could be postponed in such circumstances, according to Thapa.

Communications Minister Defends Oli’s Statement

Communications and Information Technology Minister and government spokesperson Prithvi Subba Gurung, who is also UML Deputy General Secretary, clarified that the agreement on constitutional amendments between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML would remain unchanged. He stated the amendment process would move forward as per the agreement between the two parties.

He clarified that nothing would be done to affect the agreement. He suggested that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli may have only been indicating that the constitutional amendment process would take some time given its lengthy procedures. He claimed the two parties would identify reasons requiring constitutional amendments, specify the issues, and then hold discussions with other parties.

Published On: 10 Jan 2025

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