Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday held a consultation with constitutional experts to discuss the row over formation of the National Assembly.

The meeting comes at a time when the left alliance, which has registered a landslide victory in the elections, accuses the government of trying to cross the legal and constitutional bounds while it should pave the way for a new government.

Almost all the constitutional experts present in the meeting said the President’s Office cannot halt or reject an ordinance forwarded by the government, suggesting however that some of its provisions could be amended in understanding among the major stakeholders.

The government forwarded the ordinance related to election of the upper house to President Bidya Devi Bhandari for authentication some two months ago.

The legal experts told the PM that the head of state cannot sit on any bill under the influence of any political party. The President has a constitutional obligation not to put any bill or law on hold, said Purnaman Shakya, a constitutional expert.

Shakya argued that seat allocation under the proportional representation system of the lower house cannot be completed without election of the upper house.

Former chairman of Nepal Bar Association Harihar Dahal said the provision of the single transferable vote is appropriate and in line with the constitution for formation of the upper house.

Mahadev Yadav, former attorney general, was among those who advised PM Deuba not to resign from the post arguing that the government had automatically become caretaker as soon as elections to the federal parliament and provincial assemblies were announced and Parliament dissolved.

Oli warns against picking provincial chiefs

Kathmandu: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has warned the caretaker government not to appoint the provincial chiefs.

Talking to reporters at his residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur, on Saturday, Oli said his party would not recognise the appointment of provincial chiefs made by the NC. The government is preparing to appoint chiefs of the seven provinces and announce temporary provincial headquarters.

Oli criticised PM Deuba for lingering the power handover process even after losing the elections. He accused the NC-led government of gerrymandering provisions in the ordinance for increasing the party’s presence in the National Assembly.

“NC’s intention is to undermine the people’s verdict in the guise of legal hurdles,” Oli charged. (PR)