Is the constitution still alive?
The Himalayan Times
10 June 2021
Is the constitution still alive?
PM Oli has reshuffled his cabinet for the 16th time during his three years premiership. This time, he has inducted eight ministers and two state ministers from Mahanta and Mahato faction of the Janata Samajbadi Nepal Party-Nepal (JSP-N) side lining the Baburam and Yadav faction of the same party “Oli reshuffles Cabinet, Appoints Mahato deputy prime minister” (THT, June 5, Page 1). This could be a contributing factor for these two factions to split in near future which Oli had been trying to do so for some time for his own political benefits.
The opposition alliance led by the NC condemned Oli’s move of reshuffling the cabinet citing this is a mockery of constitutional and democratic values “Opposition slams Oli govt” (THT, June 6< Page 2) when his decision to dissolve the HoR is sub judice in the Supreme Court. Surprisingly, Oli has retained only four old Cabinet members from his faction and removed other UML ministers including his close confidants – Ishwar Pokharel and Pradeep Kumar Gyawali. On the other hand, he continues to woo the Madhav-Khanal faction in one way or the other. However, they think that Oli is just buying the time for his own political hidden agenda “Oli compelling us to form new party: Rival UML faction” (THT, June 6, Page 1).
Now, there are 17 ministers in the cabinet, including 3 deputy prime ministers, and he can still appoint eight more ministers to make 25 ministers, in accordance with the constitution. It looks like that the remaining key portfolios he is holding now could be another of his political strategy, to lure a group of Madhav-Khanal faction members by extending an olive branch for unity, which has now been rejected by them “Rival UML faction rejects Oli’s appeal” (THT, June 8, Page 1). Are all these an indication of more political instability on the way and who is responsible for it- the opposition alliance, including Madhav-Khanal faction or solely PM Oli ?
Rai Biren Bangdel
Kathmandu
