Oli wins confidence vote, pledges to amend Constitution as agreed by UML -Congress coalition
Kathmandu; Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reiterated his old pledges that his government would adopt a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption, and deal with the issue sternly.
He chose not to delve into charges of corruption labelled against him and the higher authorities including the ministers in the present government, but sent across a message ‘to all inside and the world outside’, that corruption will not be tolerated at all.’ we want to establish a narrative that those involved in corruption will have to face the probe one day.’
He assured the House that industries based on local raw materials and massive reduction of imports, a balanced approach to reduce trade deficit and alleviation of the poverty will be the priority his government would be pursuing during the next two years of his leadership.
Bowing to the pressure from some prominent leaders of the Nepali congress including General secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, Oli also released the seven point agreement between him and Deuba on July 2 to form the coalition government of two parties. He admitted that the weak and strong parts of the constitution would be reviewed along with the complexities it has faced in its execution. But he gave no time frame for that. Through out the debate, Oli also had to face a barbed attack from the opposition sides with one of the members ridiculing his pledge for ‘good governance’. Birendra Kumar Mahato narrated the ordeal he faced while securing an equivalence certificate from the higher education board in sanothimi. ‘I waited for hours for it , but I got the work done in ten minutes when I paid rs five thousand to a middle-man.’ he said. Barshaman Pun from the Maoist centre Party asked the Prime Minister a pointed question–‘what will you do on the Giribandhu Tea estate issue’,
Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the Unified socialists, accused Oli of ditching Prachanda and aligning with the Nepali congress in a conspiratorial manner.
Oli secured a total of 188 votes in favour of the motion with 74 opposing it. As per the agreement KP Oli will hand over power to Sher Bahadur Deuba in two years, and that government would be holding the next general elections due in November 2027.
Deuba, the Prime Minister in the waiting as per the deal, said the constitution amendment is aimed at strengthening republic order and inclusiveness.
Rabi Lamichhane of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party expressed severe doubts about the Oli government being fair in investigating the corruption cases, where as Rajendra Lingden of the RPP held Nepali congress and the UML mainly responsible for the rampant corruption prevailing in the country today.