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Nepal govt in crisis after Maoists withdraw support
The nine-month old KP Sharma Oli government in Nepal plunged into crisis on Tuesday after key coalition partner Maoists decided to withdraw support.
The nine-month old KP Sharma Oli government in Nepal plunged into crisis on Tuesday after key coalition partner Maoists decided to withdraw support.
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) withdrew support and recalled its ministers alleging that the government had failed to implement agreements signed with the party in May.
A letter by party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda mentioning the CPN (MC) decision to the effect was handed over to Oli on Tuesday.
“Since the present government isn’t interested in implementing the 9-point agreement and the 3-point gentlemen’s agreement with us, we withdraw support to the government with immediate effect,” the letter stated.
CPN (MC) is the second biggest party in the present government after Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist).
“We already have an agreement with Nepali Congress on formation of the next government. The details will be unveiled on Wednesday,” senior Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara told journalists later.
Leaders from Nepali Congress, the main opposition party in parliament, however maintained that it hasn’t entered into any agreement, either written or verbal, with CPN (MC) on formation of next government.
Though his government has been reduced to minority, Prime Minister Oli is unlikely to announce his resignation. Sources close to him say he is planning to face a trust-vote in parliament
This is the second time in two months that Maoists have decided to topple the present government. Their earlier move in May was shelved after Oli signed the 9-point deal with Maoists.
Maoists were unhappy that the deal which dealt with formation of a national consensus government, implementation of the constitution, solution to the Madesi problem and relief for quake affected wasn’t getting due attention.
There was reportedly another 3-point gentlemen’s agreement between both parties on heading the government after the annual budget is passed by parliament. Oli’s party has denied existence of any such deal.
On Monday, senior leaders of CPN (MC) mandated Prachanda to take a call on withdrawal of support to the government and initiate process to form a national consensus government headed by the party.
