Ruling Nepali Congress, which is doing homework to form a government in Koshi Province under its leadership has floated a proposal to garner majority (47) even by tendering resignation by Speaker Baburam Gautam.
After the Supreme Court cancelled the appointment of Uddav Thapa as the Chief Minister on July 27, Koshi Province Chief Parshuram Khapung has called on parties to form a new government in accordance with Article 168 (2) by August 1.
Political analysts have said that the NC has adopted a strategy to make Speaker Gautam resign so as to present the majority within the given deadline.
However, the Maoist Center has flatly rejected the proposal saying that the NC’s proposal cannot be implemented. Gautam had become the Speaker of the Koshi Province Assembly representing the Maoist Center.
Gautam on July 6 had also signed to elect NC Koshi Province Parliamentary Party leader Thapa as the Chief Minister of Koshi Province
A full bench of the Supreme Court on July 27 revoked the signature of Gautam, thereby invalidating the process of garnering majority. With this, Thapa was relieved of his post as the Chief Minister.
NC has been staking a claim for the formation of the new government in line with the same process after Thapa’s appointment was revoked in 22 days.
The Maoist Center has not agreed to the NC’s proposal and wants to form the government under its leadership.
Maoist Center Koshi Province Parliamentary Party leader Indra Angbo has said that the party will not repeat mistakes.
“We had taken the signature of Speaker Gautam to garner majority in the past. The court issued the verdict saying that it is against the spirit of the Constitution. We won’t repeat this mistake again,” said Angbo.
At a time when the Koshi Province is without government, the leaders including Speaker Gautam of the ruling alliance are in the Kathmandu Valley.
