KATHMANDU: 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 the 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 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 consulting 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 the expectations 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 without holding any discussion.”
Another NC leader, Arjun Narsingh KC, termed Oli’s statement as disrespectful to the seven-point agreement. Speaking at an event in Kathmandu a few days ago, KC said although the issues of amendments could be finalized later, the process should begin now. “It is not the issue of just two parties. The ruling coalition must forge consensus with other parties in parliament for constitutional amendments,” KC added.
He suggested forming an all-party mechanism since two parties alone cannot amend the constitution.
Similarly, NC leader NP Saud criticized Oli for making a unilateral decision on constitutional amendments, going against the seven-point agreement. Speaking at a party program in Bardiya last week, Saud said NC 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 and expressed commitment to move ahead with amendment,” Saud said. “However, the Prime Minister has now stated amendments will happen in 2030. This goes against the agreement made to form the government.”
Although amending the constitution was one of the points of the seven-point agreement that the two parties signed while forming the ruling coalition, they have not taken any initiative even six months after assuming power. However, the two parties have agreed to move forward by forming a joint task force for the amendment.
Constitutional amendments require the support of two-thirds of the members of both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
After the two parties expressed their commitment to amending the constitution, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and CPN (Unified Socialist) formed task forces to present their suggestions. While the main opposition, CPN (Maoist Center), has not formed a task force, it has suggested a directly elected presidential system.
Prime Minister Oli has made it clear that it would take time to build consensus as some parties in parliament oppose amendment to the constitution. In a recent meeting with RPP-Nepal Chairperson Kamal Thapa, Oli said that amendments could be postponed in such circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has clarified that the agreement on constitutional amendments between NC and CPN-UML would remain unchanged. He insisted that the amendment process would move forward as per the agreement between the two parties.
“The two parties would identify reasons requiring amendments, specify the issues, and then hold discussions with other parties,” Gurung, who is also the deputy general secretary of UML, said.
