Kathmandu, August 20
The collection of signatures from lawmakers to remove Deputy Speaker Indira Rana will continue on Wednesday as well.
On Tuesday, lawmakers from the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML had begun collecting signatures on a blank sheet of paper.
“Those who were available yesterday signed yesterday. Those who were not available, or were outside the capital, will sign today,” said a member of the CPN-UML parliamentary party office.
Chief Whip of Nepali Congress Shyam Kumar Ghimire said that it was natural for the party to collect lawmakers’ signatures.
He said, “The practice of collecting and keeping signatures is an old tradition. It has been done in the past as well. We are just continuing that same practice.”
The exact number of lawmakers who signed on Tuesday has not been publicly disclosed.
To register a motion to remove the Deputy Speaker, 69 lawmakers are required. However, a two-thirds majority is needed to actually pass the motion for removal.
According to Article 91 (c) of the Constitution, “If a motion stating that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker has not acted in accordance with the dignity of the position is passed by a two-thirds majority of the total current members of the House of Representatives, the positions of Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall be vacated.”
Such a motion can be tabled in Parliament by just one-fourth of the lawmakers.
Rule 210 of the House of Representatives Regulations also contains provisions related to a motion stating that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker has not acted in accordance with the dignity of the position.
As per this rule, if any member feels that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker has not acted in accordance with the dignity of the position, a motion demanding removal 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 equals 69 lawmakers.
Currently, there are 274 sitting members in the House of Representatives. The seat for 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—i.e., 183 lawmakers—are required.
Together, Nepali Congress with 88 members and CPN-UML with 79 members make 167.
In the ruling coalition, the Janata Samajbadi Party has 7 lawmakers. The Janamat Party has 6, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party has 4, and Nagarik Unmukti Party also has 4.
In the House of Representatives, CPN (Maoist Centre) has 32, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has 21, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has 13, and CPN (Unified Socialist) has 10 lawmakers.
Additionally, the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal has 5, Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party has 1, Rastriya Janamorcha has 1, Aam Janata Party has 1, and there are 2 independents.
