KP Sharma Oli became the Prime Minister with the support of the Nepali Congress. (PTI file photo)
K.P. Sharma Oli appointed as Nepal’s Prime Minister for the fourth term. Modi congratulates, and Oli faces the challenge of ensuring political stability
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended his congratulations to K.P. Sharma Oli on his appointment as Nepal’s Prime Minister for a fourth term. In a post on X, Modi expressed anticipation for deepening the bilateral relationship and enhancing cooperation between India and Nepal for mutual progress and prosperity.
Oli, the leader of Nepal’s largest communist party, was appointed Nepal’s Prime Minister for a fourth term on Sunday to lead a new coalition government that faces the daunting challenge of providing political stability in the Himalayan nation.
“Congratulations @kpsharmaoli on your appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Look forward to working closely to further strengthen the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries and to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation for the progress and prosperity of our peoples,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Congratulations @kpsharmaoli on your appointment as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Look forward to working closely to further strengthen the deep bonds of friendship between our two countries and to further expand our mutually beneficial cooperation for the progress and prosperity…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 15, 2024
Oli, 72, succeeds Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ who lost the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives on Friday, leading to the formation of the new government process as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution. President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Oli, Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), as the new Prime Minister under Article 76-2 of the Constitution of Nepal, according to a notice issued by the President’s Office.
Oli became the Prime Minister with the support of the Nepali Congress, the largest party in Parliament. Oli’s swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11 am on Monday at Shital Niwas, the main building of Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Oli now needs to secure a vote of confidence from Parliament within 30 days of appointment according to the constitutional mandate. Oli will a need a minimum of 138 votes in the 275-seat House of Representatives (HoR).
Oli Stakes Claim
On Friday night, Oli staked his claim to become the next Prime Minister with the backing of NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba and submitted the signatures of 165 House of Representatives (HoR) members — 77 from his Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) party and 88 from the Nepali Congress. (NC).
CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Prachanda lost the vote of confidence in HoR during a floor test on Friday. Earlier last week, Nepali Congress president Deuba and CPN-UML chairman Oli inked a seven-point deal to form a new coalition government replacing Prachanda. The two leaders agreed that the remaining term of the Parliament would be shared between them turn by turn.
According to the July 1 deal between Congress chief Deuba and UML chair Oli, the two parties will lead the government on a rotational basis until next general elections scheduled for 2027. Prime Minister Oli will form a small cabinet on Monday, according to sources close to him. Other political parties including Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal, Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party, Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party are also likely to join the government.
Oli served as Nepal’s prime minister from October 11, 2015, to August 3, 2016 and then, from February 5, 2018, to July 13, 2021. He continued to serve from May 13, 2021, to July 13, 2021 — because of an appointment by the then President Bidya Devi Bhandari, described by local media as a success of Oli’s Machiavellian tricks. Later, the Supreme Court ruled that Oli’s claim to the post of prime minister was unconstitutional.
(With agency inputs)
