CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has warned that the “unconstitutional, illegal and anti-national” decisions of the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government would be unacceptable to the incoming government possibly led by him.

With the announcement made at the UML headquarters in Dhumbarahi on Thursday, all the decisions made by the Deuba government after announcement of the federal and provincial elections in August last year are likely to be revoked when Oli becomes the prime minister. The left alliance of the UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) has a comfortable majority in the federal parliament.

Oli, who is viewed as the prime minister in waiting, urged the “caretaker” government to halt all its “inappropriate and immoral activities” including those that will harm the country in the long run.

“We’ve clearly said in the party’s statement that all anti-constitutional, illegal and anti-national decisions of the government will be unacceptable to the new government,” Oli repeatedly said at the hastily-organised news conference.

The party also expressed serious concerns over the government’s “arbitrary” decisions that dent the state coffers, accusing the NC-led government of making systematic efforts to wreck the economy and the governance mechanism of the country while attempting to prevent a government of the left alliance.

The UML has seriously objected to the government’s “haphazard” spending and programmes worth billions that leave a hole in the nation’s treasury.

According to the UML, the government had predicted a budget surplus of Rs103 billion but it ended up facing a deficit of Rs48 billion.

The new government would also be burdened with a Rs60 billion civil servants voluntary retirement package. Oli noted that the targeted revenue growth of 22 percent this fiscal year was limited to 17 percent.

“The government’s focus was on prolonging its tenure even by a day so that it could take decisions on spending a few billions through Cabinet meetings,” Oli charged, after arriving for the press conference one hour behind schedule.

The party also criticised the Deuba government’s decision on Wednesday to provide elderly allowances at 65 years, down from the 70 years in practice. “Decisions having long-term consequences must be taken after proper study, instead of deciding hastily for the sake of popularity,” he said.

The party also expressed concern over the offer of voluntary retirement at a time when the country needs more and more civil servants for local and provincial governments.

On the planned merger with the Maoist Centre, Oli said the process was going forward.

He, however, refused to divulge on the unified party’s leadership, calling for people to view government formation and party unification separately.

• Deuba government attempting to wreck the economy, governance mechanism
• Nepali Congress trying hard to stop the left-alliance from forming a government