Nepal Supreme Court reinstates Lower House; orders Sher Bahadur Deuba's appointment as PM

In a major blow to caretaker PM KP Sharma Oli,  Nepal Supreme Court reinstated House of Representatives for second time in nearly 5 months. Constitution bench comprising Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JBR that includes Justices Deepak Kumar Karki, Mira Khka, Ishwor Pras Khatiwa, and Ananda Mohan Bhattarai were hearing a slew of pleas challenging Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari's move to dissolve Parliament and declare mid-term polls. Most importantly, it directed that Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahur Deuba must be appointed as PM within two days

opposition alliance h filed a plea in this regard comprising signature of 146 parliamentarians. Notably, Bhandari h dissolved House after finding  claims of both Oli and Deuba unsatisfactory based on signatures submitted. Earlier, Nepal SC quashed recent appointment of 20 Ministers amid concerns wher a caretaker PM can make such sweeping changes in Cabinet. 

Political instability in Nepal

With 121 seats,  Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) is largest party in 275-member House of Representatives. On or hand, Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Center of ex-PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal also known as 'Prachanda'and Janata Samajbi Party have 63, 49 and 34 seats respectively. rivalry between Oli and Mhav Kumar Nepal camps in CPN-UML camps escalated to extent that Nepal President dissolved Parliament on December 10, 2020, and set ball rolling for fresh elections. 

While country's Supreme Court reinstated Parliament in February, Nepal PM escalated feud by suspending Nepal and or senior leers close to him for 6 months. Amidst turmoil within ruling party, Oli finally decided to seek a vote of confidence on May 10. However, he was dealt anor blow as CPN-Maoist Center withdrew its support, reducing government to a minority. reafter, he lost confidence motion after securing just 93 votes in session attended by 232 lawmakers.

Whereas 124 members voted against motion, 15 ors stayed neutral. Though CPN-Maoist Center decided to back Nepali Congress, CPN-UML rival faction and Janata Samajbi Party showed hesitancy in formation of an alternative government. Although Oli was back at helm of affairs, he received a setback on May 20 as his candidate for a seat in Nepal's Upper House- Home Minister Ram Bahur Thapa lost to a candidate fielded by  CPN-UML rival faction. Moreover, nation's SC issued an interim order restraining 7 members of Cabinet from discharging ir ministerial responsibilities.

Defecting to PM's party from  CPN-Maoist Center, y h been disqualified from Parliament. This compelled him to not seek a vote of confidence in House of Representatives. Following this, Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari gave anor opportunity to political parties to bid for Prime Minister's post by 5 pm on May 21. A day later, she took recourse to Article 76(5) which paves way for dissolution of Parliament and fresh polls if no one is able to garner support of a majority of lawmakers.