Nepal's political turbulence: How the resignation of PM KP Oli transpired

Nepal is all set to elect its new prime minister based on majority votes as the deadline given by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari for the formation of a new government by an all-party consensus expired on Sunday. [caption id=“attachment_2927770” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of KP Sharma Oli. Reuters[/caption] Voting will be held in Parliament on Wednesday to elect the new PM after Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-MC) decided to be in the Opposition. Prachanda, Chairman of CPN-MC, said it was impossible to install a government based on national consensus, reported The Hindustan Times. Prime Minister KP Oli had to resign after the key coalition partner, CPN-MC, withdrew its support from the government. The new government will be the ninth in the last eight years, reported The Diplomat. Oli’s government of CPM (Unified Marxist-Leninist) was formed soon after the promulgation of Nepal’s constitution and has served for nine months. Prachanda is backed by Nepali Congress – the largest party in Parliament – as the sole candidate for the position of the Prime Minister. Both these parties have agreed to form the government on a rotational basis. CPN-MC demanded leadership even while supporting the Oli government. As the report in The Diplomat states, Prachanda and the Nepali Congress had reached a consensus on toppling the government in May. However, soon after Oli promised the post of Prime Minister to Prachanda, he withdrew his offer to the Congress. Oli refused to acknowledge any such agreement. This incited tension between the two parties and put the government in danger. Soon after Oli refused to hand over the leadership to Prachanda, they withdrew support to the government and Oli had to resign. Nepali Congress, which held the maximum number of seats under the Oli government felt isolated because all the major positions were held by CPN-UML and CPN-MC. Oli’s government has not been hugely popular among the common people. His cabinet, as The Kathmandu Post  points out, had many internal contradictions. People had no hope that this group would remain in power for long. Oli also failed to deliver on his promises. India’s support to the Madhesis’ demands pulled Nepal closer to China. Oli brought in China to counter Indian intrusion. The Kathmandu Post reported that this may have prompted Indians to conspire with some politicians to topple the Nepal government. The instability within the government seems to have been caused by a want of greater power by all political parties.