Nepal in Turmoil

Why in news?

Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli recommended the President to dissolve the Parliament.

Why was the Parliament dissolved?

• Last week, ordinance was made by the PM to amend the Constitutional Council Act.
•  The act will weaken the checks & balances in the system and empowers the PM to make crucial appointments.
• So, the opposition and other leaders within the ruling party demanded to withdraw the ordinance.
• Earlier he agreed to withdraw the ordinance but later he decided to dissolve the Parliament.

What will happen now?

• Nepal’s Constitution allows for dissolving the House before its five-year term only if there is a hung assembly.
• Now this decision will be challenged in the Supreme Court.
• If Supreme Court agrees with the decision, elections will be held a year ahead of schedule.

What is the root cause for this crisis?

• Mr. Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and its alliance came to power in 2017 with a huge majority.
• Within a year, CPN-UML and CPI (Maoist Centre) merged to form Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
• This merger provided opportunity to steer the country towards democracy from many crises.
• But fundamental differences aroused between the NCP’s two factions.
• Mr. Oli’s had an authoritarian drive & refused to share power with the Maoist faction.
• In recent months, there were also calls from the party for Mr. Oli to step down.
• If this crises continues, split cannot be ruled out.
• This might push Nepal back to political instability amid slowing economy & Coronavirus crisis.

Source: The Hindu