More than a month after the dissolution of the Lower House of Nepali Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha, the Prachanda faction of the Nepal Communist Party expelled Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli from the party. Oli is also the head of the NCP.
It needs to be mentioned that Oli on December 20 had dissolved the Lower House and ordered for fresh elections in April. But senior leaders like Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal strongly objected to it. These two leaders accused Oli of being dictatorial. Both the factions of the NCP are staking claim over the party’s symbol but the Election Commission had not taken any decision.
Though Oli had announced that elections will be held in April, political observers are of the view that much will depend on the Supreme Court which is hearing the matter related to the dissolution of the Lower House.
As China is fishing in the troubled waters of Nepal the split in NCP may be a big setback to Beijing. Its ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi was trying her level best to keep the party united.
The NCP came into existence after the merger of two parties, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) on 17 May 2018. China had played a crucial role in bringing the two parties together. But the factional tussle remained.
The political instability in Nepal may give a chance to those who want the restoration of kingship and formation of Constitutional Monarchy in the Himalayan state.
