Kathmandu June 11: The two orders issued by the Supreme Court on Thursday and the Gandaki Chief Minister not getting a vote of confidence have shocked Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is holding power by uniting the tipped political elements.

The Supreme Court has ordered not to implement the citizenship ordinance as it would disturb Oli’s power. In Karnali, four lawmakers who had given a vote of confidence to Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi in violation of the whip will be reinstated and the 10th National General Convention Organizing Committee (to take action against those violating the whip) has been further embarrassed by another court order disregarding the official structure of the UML.

Oli had agreed with the JSP’s Mahanta Thakur-Rajendra Mahato group to bring an ordinance on citizenship and form a constitution amendment task force to make it easier for him to remain prime minister. According to the agreement, Thakur-Mahato faction of JSP is participating in the government. After the court restrained the ordinance brought as per the agreement, the response from the Thakur-Mahato faction of JSP is seen to be a further test of Oli’s power.

In the third week of Marchl, UML Chairman Oli was transforming the party committee into the General Convention Organizing Committee and making a one-sided decision. But with the Supreme Court calling the action taken by the organizing committee against the state parliamentarians illegal, Oli has become even weaker. Earlier, the Supreme Court had reinstated four JSP MPs from Lumbini province, making it easier for Oli closer Chief Minister Shankar Pokharel to retain his post. Krishna Thapa, an MP from Gandaki Janamorcha, was also reinstated by the Supreme Court.

When Gandaki Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung proposed the no-confidence motion on Thursday, Thapa remained neutral. Chief Minister Gurung of the Oli group could not get a vote of confidence.

Prime Minister Oli has become weak not only at the center but also in the Provinces. The fact that the governments of the Far Western and Karnali are strong even in the absence of his group and the failure of his party to get a vote of confidence in Gandaki shows that Oli is embarrassed in the province as well. Oli, who has been weakened by the onslaught of power everywhere, has continued his efforts to stay in power.

While the Supreme Court is considering a complaint filed by the caretaker Prime Minister alleging expansion of the Council of Ministers, Oli again challenged the constitutional order and the Supreme Court on Thursday. President Vidyadevi Bhandari, who did not allow Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to expand the cabinet in 2074 BS, has sworn in the newly appointed minister of the Oli government, saying that the caretaker government will not be allowed to do anything except urgent after the promulgation of the new constitution. Prime Minister Oli on Thursday appointed eight ministers, including seven ministers and one minister of state, regardless of the general recognition of the constitution and the dignity of the court.

Minister of home, Khagraj Adhikari, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Rajkishore Yadav, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Nanakala Thapa ( wife of Rambahadrur Thapa, the then Home minister), Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Jwalakumari Sah, Minister for Forest and Environment Narad Muni Rana, Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration Ganesh Pahadi, Mohan Bania in the Prime Minister’s Office and Council of Ministers Asha Kumari BK was appointed as the Minister of State on Thursday. Among them, only Home Minister Adhikari has been helping Oli with commitment since the past. Sources close to the prime minister said that the prime minister was compelled to appoint other ministers only to balance power and preserve power.

At the same time, Oli’s cabinet has 25 members. He cannot increase the number of ministers due to the restrictions of the constitution.

Oli has appointed 11 ministers from JSP in his cabinet. There are only 20 MPs in favor of JSP’s Mahanta Thakur faction. there are serious differences even within his party and the party has reached the point of division.
Article 76(1) of the Constitution provides that the post of Prime Minister will remain vacant if he resigns, fails to get a vote of confidence or passes a no-confidence motion or becomes a member of the House of Representatives. As he is not a member of the House of Representatives, Oli is automatically the caretaker Prime Minister. Article 76(3) provides that the Council of Ministers shall operate until another Council of Ministers is formed. But since Oli became caretaker prime minister, the cabinet has undergone extensive reshuffle.

Earlier, there were instances when the caretaker government stopped the expansion of the cabinet by the president. When the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba in 2074 BS and Baburam Bhattarai’s government in 2069 BS tried to restructure the cabinet, it was stopped by the President. But now, whatever Prime Minister Oli has done, the President has made it clear.
Professor Lokraj Baral, a political scientist, said that he was under a lot of pressure when he saw Oli’s haste and the face of the Council of Ministers. ‘He has become very weak and seems to be moving in the direction of doing anything for the weakened seat, so there is an unbalanced addition of members to the Council of Ministers from Province 2,’ he said.He said, ‘When the river was about to sink, it would have been better to hold a floating stick. The same thing has happened to Oli. Now a serious question arises as to what more Oli does. Oli is now worried that the Supreme Court will reinstate parliament.