Divisions have emerged among Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) members of the House of Representatives regarding the dissolution of Parliament despite their mass resignation.
RSP lawmaker Dr Toshima Karki has called for the immediate dissolution of House while Sobita Gautam holds a different view.
Through social media, Dr Toshima Karki argued, “Two years of parliamentary practice have taught me that the current Constitution cannot provide a stable government and that government alliances are only played for the sake of power, at the expense of the people's mandate. Therefore, we must now have the courage to create an environment where the party can gain a majority, implement a directly elected executive prime minister, and abolish provincial governments.”
She also stated that numerous other amendments are essential to further advance democracy and believes they could be incorporated into a revised new Constitution for Nepal.
“Therefore, this House should be dissolved without any further delay. After that, an interim government should hold elections according to the revised new Constitution of Nepal to lead the country toward a stable government for the people,” she said. Dr Karki is a directly elected member of House from Lalitpur-3.
However, another elected lawmaker of Sobita Gautam from Kathmandu-2 stated that the dissolution of House would endanger the sovereignty and state power vested in the Nepali people.
She argued that corrupt individuals can be punished by creating laws, and the country should not be led toward House dissolution in a way that endangers the supremacy of the people.
“I am as committed to saving this system of Nepal as I am against the corrupt. The leaders are the ones who are corrupt. If the people elect the right person and send them, it is possible to make laws, bring the corrupt within the purview of law, and even nationalize their assets! The Nepali people just have to elect the right person. This is only possible as long as the supremacy of the people is maintained. Maintaining the supremacy of the people can be done by the House and it cannot be dissolved. Dissolution of the institution that maintains supremacy of the people means to put the people's supremacy is in danger, the supremacy of the country in danger. The sovereignty and state power vested in the Nepali people in danger. What is written in the Constitution in danger. Dissolution of House is not acceptable,” she said in a video on her Facebook account.
Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, who is facilitating the formation of the new government, has also demanded House dissolution.
“Honorable President! Please immediately form an interim government and dissolve the House to protect the historic revolution brought by the Gen Zs,” he had said on Wednesday.
The demand for House dissolution has also been raised in the virtual dialogues of the Gen Zs. Some members of the Gen Z group, who called for the movement, have opined that the journey of House dissolution should not be undertaken to maintain civilian supremacy, prevent the country from going into a state of vacuum, and protect the Constitution. However, they have not reached a conclusion on this matter.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party with 21 HoR members also appears to be in a state of confusion.
As the Gen Z movement progressed toward its climax, 20 RSP members (excluding Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar) had collectively resigned on Tuesday.
“We have reached the conclusion that the current federal Parliament has failed to resolve any national issues and has lost its legitimacy. Proposing the speedy formation of an interim civilian government for a future solution, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the Gen Z warriors killed by the government and advocate for the speedy and free treatment of all those injured. With full support for the demands and expectations of the Gen Z, who are the country's main asset, and with the commitment to continue the movement, we inform you that the parliamentary party is unanimous in the secretariat's proposal for all of us, the members of the Rastriya Swatantra Party in the House of Representatives (MPs), to resign collectively,” the secretariat meeting had announced.
RSP parliamentary party leader Rabi Lamichhane, former parliamentary party leader Dol Prasad Aryal, and HoR members Swarnim Wagle, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Nisha Dangi, Manish Jha, Sumana Shrestha, Ganesh Parajuli, Sobita Gautam, Dr Toshima Karki, Shishir Khanal, Hari Dhakal, Chanda Karki (Bhandari), Asim Shah, Laxmi Tiwari, Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, Shiv Nepali, Binita Kathayat, and Bindabasini Kansakar had resigned collectively.
