Kathmandu, August 19
The Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are preparing to remove Deputy Speaker Indira Rana. Efforts are underway to secure the required two-thirds majority for this.
Rule 210 of the House of Representatives Regulations provides for a motion against the Speaker or Deputy Speaker if they are deemed to have acted in a manner not befitting their position.
According to this rule, if a member believes that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker has not conducted themselves appropriately in their position, a motion to remove them can be tabled with the support of one-fourth of the total current members of the House of Representatives. In the 275-member House, one-fourth means 69 lawmakers.
However, to actually remove them from the position, the motion must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the current total members of the House.
At present, there are 274 active members in the House of Representatives, as the seat from Rupandehi-3 is vacant due to the death of lawmaker Deepak Bohara.
If the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is to be removed, two-thirds of the current 274 members (182.66), that is, 183 lawmakers, are required.
The Nepali Congress has 88 members, and the CPN-UML has 79, making a total of 167. To remove the Deputy Speaker, Congress and UML would need 16 more lawmakers.
Within the ruling coalition itself, the Janata Samajbadi Party has 7 lawmakers. The Janamat Party has 6, the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party has 4, and the Nagarik Unmukti Party also has 4.
In the House of Representatives, the CPN (Maoist Centre) has 32, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has 21, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has 13, and the CPN (Unified Socialist) has 10 lawmakers.
Additionally, the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal has 5 lawmakers, while the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party (NeMaKipa), Janamorcha, Aam Janta Party each have 1, and there are 2 independents.
