KP Sharma Oli and opposition alliance, both stake claim to form government

KP Sharma Oli (File photo)

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s political crisis took a dramatic turn on Friday as embattled PM K P Sharma Oli and the opposition parties staked separate claims for the formation of a new government by submitting letters of support from lawmakers to President Bidya Devi Bhandari. Oli reached the president’s office and presented his list a couple of minutes ahead of the opposition leaders. He claimed support of 121 lawmakers from his own party CPNUML and 32 lawmakers of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N) for his reappointment pursuant 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 submitted to the President, 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.
The opposition’s decision came after Oli reportedly expressed unwillingness on Thursday to undergo another floor test to prove his government’s majority in the House of Representatives. Bhandari on Friday told the opposition alliance that she will seek advice from constitutional experts before taking a call on government formation.