Eleven central members of the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) have accused President Bidya Devi Bhandari of acting as an accomplice of a party faction.
Issuing a joint statement on Wednesday, central members Gagan Thapa, Chandra Bhandari, Kamala Panta, Dhan Raj Gurung, Ratna Sherchan, Badri Pandey, Jivan Pariyar, Guru Raj Ghimire, Pradip Paudel, Ram Krishna Yadav and Sarita Prasai have criticized President Bhandari for hastily authenticating the controversial ordinances.
President Bhandari authenticated the ordinances about splitting party and majority decision in the Constitutional Council Monday evening just hours after the Cabinet meeting passed the ordinances. The ordinances were published in the Nepal Gazette later in the night.
"Unnatural haste and involvement of the Rt Honorable President in the government's step is not just surprising but even suspicious," the 11 central members have stated. "This has once again depicted the prestigious institution of presidency as mere an accomplice of a party faction which is unfortunate. President is not an individual but an institution. We once again urge to maintain dignity of the prestigious institution."
The Cabinet meeting at Baluwatar Monday passed an ordinance allowing splitting of a party with support of 40 percent in either the parliamentary party or the central committee. The act about political parties requires support of 40 percent in both the parliamentary party and the central committee to split any political party.
The other ordinance states that the Constitutional Council can take decisions on the basis of majority. The six-strong council currently only has five members in lack of election for deputy speaker. The amendment means that the Council can take decisions with support of three and even in absence of the main opposition leader.
The NC central members have demanded with the government to immediately withdraw the ordinances. They have also urged NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba to immediately call central committee meeting for comprehensive discussion to make the party's role more effective and resistance movement against the government's attitude strong and result-oriented.
