Miscellaneous
PM Koirala denies receiving 'political' advice from Prez
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala emphasised on Friday that he has received no directives from President Ram Baran Yadav concerning constitution-writing and government formation.Replying to comments from lawmakers at the Legislature-Parliament, PM Koirala expressed dismay at media reports stating that President Yadav had been instructing him on key issues. PM Koirala clarified that it was normal for the head of state and head of government to meet regularly.
The parliament was holding a session to wish the new prime minister. The programme was postponed earlier as the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML were embroiled in a power-sharing row.
CPN-UML lawmakers Bishnu Poudel and Rabindra Adhikari along with UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Janardan Sharma had raised concerns over the issue. Poudel, who is also UML Secretary, demanded that the House take note of their concerns, asserting that a ceremonial President cannot advise the PM on political issues. “This is like the kings of the past issuing advice to the executive. The President doing so goes against the spirit of the constitution,” said Poudel.
UML lawmaker Adhikari demanded that PM Koirala explain his position. “What kind of prime ministerial system is he [Koirala] trying to develop by consenting to directives from the President?” asked Adhikari. Maoist lawmaker Sharma alleged that the President's move to issue directives to the executive head was backed by the NC and the UML. The Maoist party has mixed relations with the head of state as a result of the decision of President Yadav not to endorse moves by the then government headed by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to sack Army Chief Rookmangad Katawal.
The Office of the President on February 12, following a meeting between Yadav and Koirala, had issued a statement outlining seven points to which the head of state believed the newly elected government would pay attention.
Prime Minister Koirala called on all the forces inside and outside the CA to play a constructive role in constitution writing. He thanked Maoist Chairman Dahal and others concerned for the integration of former Maoist combatants. Koirala said the Cabinet would be expanded at the earliest.
The PM expressed his optimism at the election of the CA chairman. Subas Nembang, a UML lawmaker, made it to the post for the second time.