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DOCKING NEPAL’S ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
POLITICAL OVERVIEW POLITICAL OVERVIEW This quarter has been a quagmire for Nepali politics. Additionally, the brunt of responding to COVID-19 has had profound effects in the political realm. The Government, which has been trying to respond to the crisis has received massive criticism for its inefficiency leading to the breakout of protests across the country. Moreover, the issuance of two ordinances by the government (which were eventually taken back) was seen by many as an attempt to consolidate power during a crisis. Nevertheless, the government was able to publish a new map of Nepal including the disputed territories of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, also amending the constitution to reflect the same, gaining nationwide support on the issue. Ruling NCP creates a task force to bring an end to its fiasco: After
months of tensions inside the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), a task force led by general secretary Bishnu Poudel and including six of the party’s standing committee members was created to suggest ways to resolve the ongoing conflicts. Formally, the task force was assigned the duty after the party’s secretariat endorsed it on 17 August. The task force recommended a powersharing formula for the chairmen-duo, with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli running the government and Pushpa Kamal Dahal running the party as its executive chairman. In addition, the task force also recommended a reshuffle of the Cabinet and changes in the provincial governments (being run by NCP)1. Internal conflict in the ruling party had manifested when PM Oli decided to bring out two ordinances – one related to political party split and the other related to the appointment of
the officials of constitutional bodies - on 20 April. After much criticism, the ordinances were taken back however, leaders inside NCP started demanding for Oli’s resignation2. Since then, internal conflict in the party escalated to a great extent with party leaders from Prachanda’s and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal’s camp asking for Oli’s resignation both from the position of Chairman of the party and as the Prime Minister time and again. Nonetheless, the report prepared by the task force doesn’t ask for Oli’s resignation as the party is now focusing on convening its national convention to seal the merger between the then UML and the then Maoist party as scheduled by the Central Committee, bringing an end to related disputes. The report will firstly be presented to the party’s Secretariat and then to the Standing Committee3. Abrupt ending of Parliament’s budget session: The Cabinet on 2
July recommended President Bidya
Devi Bhandari to prorogue the budget session of the Parliament. Similarly, the recommendation was swiftly endorsed, as sessions of both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly ended that very day4. The budget session, which ended abruptly, still had some crucial bills pending – like those related to citizenship and the federal civil service. Constitutional experts have related this prorogation as an attempt to assist the prime minister in his next move, which may be bringing an ordinance. However, members of the Cabinet have argued that the prorogation was due to the lack of business for the parliament. This session, which lasted for a total of 58 days, was the sixth session of the house. Also, this session had endorsed six other bills in addition to the budget and the second constitutional amendment5. Appointment
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