Prime Minister (PM) Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday has told CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that he is eager to leave the government and urged the left alliance to make procedural arrangements.
Dahal reached Baluwatar in the morning to talk with PM Deuba even as the ordinance for formation of National Assembly has been stuck at the President's Office. Deuba is saying he will not leave the government unless the ordinance is passed paving the way for announcement of the federal lawmakers through proportional representation (PR) system.
The Election Commission has also said it cannot finalize the name of PR lawmakers for the lower house before formation of the National Assembly to ensure representation of women, Madhesis, indigenous ethnicities and other marginalized groups is in accordance to the constitution. The government argues that the next government cannot be formed unless all the members of House of Representatives, including those through the PR system, are elected.
"We must move all the processes forward now. The President doesn't have constitutional rights to stop an ordinance. You get the ordinance moved forward. Don't obstruct it," senior media expert to PM Deuba Pariyar quoted Deuba as telling Dahal. "I am eager to leave the government. You get the ordinance moving by talking with CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli."
Deuba pointed that the President does not have any right to stop, consult on or return any bill sent by the Cabinet and asked the left alliance to read the Article 66 of the Constitution once for clarity. "The National Assembly will be formed after that and the government can also be formed. I am eager to leave Baluwatar as early as possible," Pariyar quoted PM as telling Dahal during the 30-minute meeting.
Dahal thanked Deuba for holding the election in their first meeting after the election results arrived. "It is the duty of us three parties to build this country. You have held the election to ensure that and deserve credit for that. You held the election taking a huge risk. This has ended political deadlock," Pariyar quoted Dahal as telling Deuba.
Dahal assured Deuba that the ordinance stuck at the President's Office will be passed soon. "I will talk with Oli about the stuck ordinance. You can rest assured."
