Kathmandu, January 29
Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is in the mood to announce dates for local elections on Tuesday, sources close to the PMO say.
Dahal, who has in his words “caught between two khukuris” due to pressure from the Madheshi Morcha and the UML, will hold consultations with major political forces on Monday, and announce dates for election to villages and municipalities, sources tell Onlinekhabar.
Dahal became Prime Minister in August 2016 after his party UCPN-Maoist pulled out of the KP Oli government, and formed a new coalition with the Nepali Congress, the largest party in Parliament. Prachanda’s ruling coalition also received support from the Madheshi Morcha, an alliance of Madhesh-based parties that has been demanding an amendment to the constitution to address its demands related to inclusiveness and delineation of provincial boundaries.
However, the KP Oli-led opposition has been protesting the government’s bid to amend the constitution, calling the move ‘anti-national’. Prachanda needs two-third majority to get the amendment bill passed. The ruling coalition has a slim two-third majority in Parliament, but two ruling allies the RPP (Kamal Thapa) and MJF (Bijay Gachchhadar) are reluctant to support the bill.
The UML has said it will do everything within its means to block the amendment bill. But the Madheshi Morcha, which has reluctantly given its blessing to the bill, wants it passed at the earliest. It has said it will not take part in any elections until the amendment is passed.
Prime Minister Dahal is likely to announce election dates despite protests from the Madheshi Morcha, sources say. However, he is also likely to try to reach a compromise with the Morcha before doing so.
Meanwhile, Speaker Onsari Gharti has informed Prachanda that Parliament will pass all election-related Acts required for local polls, by Monday. This is also likely to spur Prachanda to announce elections on Tuesday.
