Kathmandu, Nepal, February 8, 2022: The Nepali Congress (NC) led incumbent coalition government has decided not only to table the much-delayed American grant- Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in the parliament but also to hold the local level elections amid the differences among the ruling allies.
Both the government’s decisions are applauded from the different sectors even though the major coalition partners- CPN (Maoist Center) and the CPN (United Socialist) do not seem satisfy with the ruling head Nepali Congress.
With the decision, Nepali Congress, particularly its president and the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, has given a clear cut message that no compromise will be made with the coalition partners not only to accept the multibillion US grant project but also to hold periodic elections on the name of keeping alive the incumbent coalition till the next elections of the House of Representatives (HOR).
Prime Minister Deuba had not only been facing criticism for dillydallying to announce the date for local level elections but pressure to determine the fate of the MCC by tabling in the parliament as per the agreement made in 2017 with the US government. Coincidently, Deuba was the Prime Minister even at the time when the agreement was signed between the Nepal and US government.
As the Nepal government had repeatedly been missing the deadline to endorse the MCC from the parliament, Prime Minister Deuba and Maoist Center Chairman Dahal had made commitment on behalf of the Nepal government to endorse from the ongoing session of the parliament by taking into confidence all the parties represent in the parliament. Following the commitment, the US has already set a February 28 deadline for its parliamentary ratification.
Prime Minister Deuba has intensified his efforts to take into confidence to all the political parties represent in the parliament not only to hold elections on time but also to endorse the MCC from the parliament. Before thanking the two crucial decisions, he had consulted on Sunday with the main opposition CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Prime Minister Deuba has been luring the leaders of the different parties stating that holding of the periodic elections on time as per the line and spirit of the constitution and taking deciding of the MCC from the sovereign parliament should not be obstructed from anywhere.
The two key coalition partners- Maoist Centre and the Unified Socialist had a demand not to move simultaneously the local level elections and MCC proposal fearing of losing vote base while the main opposition UML had launched even protest demanding announcement of the date for the local level elections. The UML, however, has been remaining mum over the MCC stating that it would make public its official decision only after the tabulation of the proposal in the parliament.
Deuba decided to move forward the MCC compact in Parliament and made decision accordingly from the cabinet after UML chairman Oli hinted him to vote in favor of the MCC if was tabled in the parliament amid the protest from the coalition partners. The UML has a suspicion that the Maoist Center would create obstruction even to table the MCC agreement in the parliament by taking into confidence the Speaker Sapkota.
Though the Maoist Centre still appears to be against the compact’s ratification, the party would not dare to compel Speaker Sapkota not to table the MCC agreement in the parliament. Maoist Center and the United Socialist have a fear that coalition with the Nepali Congress would not remain if obstruction was created to implement the government’s decision.
As Deuba was appointed as Prime Minister on July 13 as per a Supreme Court order on July 12 last year, his government would continue till the next HoR elections even if the coalition partners withdraw support to the government. Constitution does not allow registering no confidence motion within two years after it get support from the parliament.
