KP Sharma Oli and Opposition parties staked claim for forming new govt

Both groups have submitted letters comprising signatures of lawmakers to President Bidya Devi Bhandari

KP Sharma Oli.: File picture

PTI   |   Kathmandu   |  22.05.21: Nepal’s political crisis deepened on Friday as both Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the Opposition parties staked a claim for the formation of a new government by submitting letters comprising signatures of lawmakers to President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Prime Minister Oli reached the President’s office Shital Niwas a couple of minutes ahead of the Opposition leaders.

He submitted the letter claiming the support of 121 lawmakers from his own party, the CPN-UML, and 32 lawmakers of the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N) for his reappointment, according to Article 76(5) of the Constitution.

JSP-N president Mahantha Thakur, JSP-N parliamentary party leader Rajendra Mahato and Oli had signed the letter that was submitted to Bhandari, CPN-UML leader Bishnu Rimal was quoted as saying in The Himalayan Times.

Earlier, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba claimed to have garnered the support of 149 lawmakers. Deuba, along with the leaders of other Opposition parties, reached the Bhandari’s office to stake claim for the post of Prime Minister.

The Opposition’s decision came after Oli reportedly expressed his unwillingness on Thursday to undergo another floor test to prove his government’s majority in the House of Representatives.

Leaders of the Opposition alliance, including the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), the Upendra Yadav-faction of Janata Samajbadi Party and the ruling CPN-UML’s Madhav Nepal faction claimed to have the support of 149 lawmakers.