After constitution fiasco, Nepal prez calls Bhattarai caretaker PM

Breaking his silence on dissolution of the Constituent Assembly two days ago, Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav has termed Prime Minister Bhattarai’s government as caretaker.

Updated on: May 30, 2012, 24:01:24 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Breaking his silence on dissolution of the Constituent Assembly two days ago, Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav has termed Prime Minister Bhattarai’s government as caretaker.

Issuing a statement on Tuesday evening, the President’s office directed Bhattarai to act in a caretaker capacity till the next government takes charge.

On Sunday midnight after the CA failed to promulgate within deadline, Bhattarai’s cabinet okayed holding of elections for the next CA on November stating the government had executive powers till that time.

There was uncertainty in Nepal following the move as who would take control of executive powers, the President or the Prime Minister, after the sudden move.

“To remove the air of uncertainty the President consulted with legal and constitutional experts and took the decision on his own,” informed Rajendra Dahal, media advisor to the President.

Several political parties including Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) had termed the government move unconstitutional and demanded Bhattarai’s resignation.

But the statement issued by Shital Niwas, the President’s official residence cited provisions of the interim constitution which states that since Bhattarai has ceased to be a CA member, he can only act in caretaker capacity.

The statement urged all political parties to move ahead with consensus to deal with the fresh political crisis.

Meanwhile a writ petition was filed on Tuesday in the Supreme Court challenging the government move to dissolve the CA without promulgating the new statute.

Nepal’s interim constitution has no provision of what would happen if the CA fails to deliver a new constitution.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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