“Nepal In Turmoil”
(Turmoil: उथल-पुथल; a state of confusion, uncertainty, or disorder)
K.P. Oli put his greed for power over the interests of democracy and political stability
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s recommendation to dissolve Parliament, which has been duly approved by President Bidya Devi Bhandari, has pushed the young democracy into an unprecedented (अभूतपूर्व; never having happened or existed in the past) constitutional crisis and political turmoil.
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Mr. Oli, whose Nepal Communist Party with a near two-thirds majority in Parliament, took the drastic step (कठोर/प्रचंड कदम; severe and sudden or strong step, having noticeable effects) as he came under increasing pressure from his own party to withdraw an ordinance (अध्यादेश/नियम; a law or rule made by a government or authority) his government issued last week.
Both the opposition and other leaders within the ruling party alleged (आरोपित करना; to state that something bad is a fact without giving proof) that the ordinance to amend the Constitutional Council Act would undermine (कमजोर कर देना; to make someone less confident or powerful) the checks and balances (नियंत्रण एवं संतुलन; separation of control among several government organizations) in the system and empower the Prime Minister in making crucial appointments.
Mr. Oli had reportedly agreed to withdraw the ordinance in a party meeting. But on Sunday, his Cabinet (मंत्रिमंडल; a small group of the most important people in government, who advise the President or Prime Minister and make important decisions) made the unexpected move to recommend a dissolution (विघटन; the act or process of ending an official organization or legal agreement) of Parliament.
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Elections will now be held in April-May 2021, a year ahead of schedule. Constitutional experts have challenged the legality of Mr. Oli’s decision. Nepal’s 2015 Constitution allows the dissolution of the House before its five-year term ends only if there is a hung assembly (समान बहुमत की विधानसभा; having equal majority in the assembly so that no decisions can be made) and no party manages to form a government.
Since the President has cleared his recommendation, the issue will now be decided by the Supreme Court. When Mr. Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and its alliance (गठबंधन/संधि; a group of political parties, or people who have agreed to work together because of shared interests or aims) partners came to power in 2017 with a huge majority, many hoped that it would be a new beginning. Nepal was in a painful transition from a monarchy (एकतंत्र/राजशाही; a country that has a king or queen) to a republican democracy (गणतांत्रिक लोकतंत्र; a system in which government is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves).
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In less than a year, the CPNUML and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), led by former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, merged to form the country’s largest communist force, the NCP.
It was a historic opportunity for the NCP, especially for Mr. Oli, to steer (मार्ग दिखाना; to make something or someone go in a particular direction) the fledgling democracy (नई/अनुभवहीन लोकतंत्र; a new democracy, without experience) out of its many crises. But the merger did not dissolve (भंग करना/खत्म होना; to end an official organization or a legal arrangement) the fundamental differences between the NCP’s two factions (गुट/पक्ष; a group within a larger group, especially one with slightly different ideas from the main group).
Mr. Oli’s authoritarian impulses (सत्तावादी आवेग; a sudden strong wish of demanding that people obey completely) and refusal to share power with the Maoist faction made matters worse. In recent months, there were calls from within the NCP for Mr. Oli to step down (पद/स्थान छोड़ना; to give up a job or position).
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When the party asked him to withdraw the amendment, it was clear that he had lost internal support. But instead of following the party line, Mr. Oli decided to sink his government. Given the seriousness of the crisis, a split cannot be ruled out. And if that happens, Nepal would be pushed back to political instability, at a time of multiple challenges, from a slowing economy to the coronavirus crisis.
Mr. Oli could have gone down in history as a statesman (राजनीतिज्ञ/राजनेता; an experienced politician, especially one who is respected for making good judgments). Instead, he has cut a sorry figure as Prime Minister, and his obsession (जुनून; something or someone that you think about all the time) with power risks unravelling (जानना/सुलझाना; to solve a crime or explain a mystery) the party he co-founded.
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