Will ask President to take forward process to choose new Nepal PM: Sushil Koirala

Kathmandu: Nepal on Friday began the process of electing a Prime Minister under the new constitution, with the incumbent Sushil Koirala saying he will ask the President to initiate a process to find his successor. As soon as the winter session of Parliament began, Prime Minister Koirala said he would go to the Rastrapati Bhawan to ask President Rambaran Yadav to initiate the process of electing a new Premier. “According to my public commitment and the provisions of the constitution… I will ask the respected president to take forward the constitutional process to choose the new prime minister,” 76-year-old Koirala, who assumed the office of the Prime Minister in February 2014, told parliament. Making a valedictory speech, the veteran Nepali Congress leader appreciated the newly promulgated constitution, saying the historical document has fulfilled people’s decades long dream to have a constitution written by their representative. [caption id=“attachment_2250618” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Sushil Koirala. AFP[/caption] The constitution requires that a new prime minister be elected from the Parliament within seven days of beginning of the first session of the House after commencement of the new charter. Although Koirala has not announced his resignation, once the new Prime Minister is elected as per the constitutional provision his post will automatically be vacated. There was an understanding between ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML that Koirala will quit the top post once the Constitution is promulgated and K P Oli, the chairman of second largest party CPN-UML, will take over new premiership. The Prime Minister also asked the agitating parties to call off their protests and blockades as the talks between the government and the protegees are underway. The government has formed a team headed by forest minister Mahesh Acharya and informal talks have already started with the agitating Madhesi groups. Madhesis are Indian-origin inhabitants of the Terai region bordering India who are opposed to splitting Nepal into seven provinces. The agitating Madhesi Front claims that the Constitution does not guarantee enough rights and representation to the Madhesi and Tharu communities residing in southern Nepal. At least 40 people have died in over a month of clashes between police and protesters from the Madhesi and Tharu communities and ethnic minorities. Koirala said the government will provide compensation to those killed in the agitation, medical treatment to those injured, withdraw cases against the protesters and release the detained cadres of the Madhesi parties. “The agitators should also help in easing the supply situation in the country in this situation,” he said. Earlier, a cabinet meeting decided to initiate the process of electing a new Prime Minister. In Friday’s session, the government was expected to present proposal to amend the constitution to address the demands of the agitating Madhesi parties. The proposals regarding the constitution amendment will be presented in the Parliament as the next Parliament session starts on Sunday. The major parties are mulling the proposal of amending the constitution to address the demands of the agitating parties including ensuring proportionate representation of the Madhesi people in government jobs, the inclusiveness and allocating parliament seats on the basis of population. PTI