Opposition set to challenge govt on first day of Nepal’s winter parliament session

January 31, 2025, 10:32:28 AM |

KATHMANDU: The government is set to face opposition from rival parties on the very first day of the winter session of the Federal Parliament. As the session begins, opposition parties are preparing to challenge the government over the introduction of six different ordinances. Sources have revealed that lawmakers from opposition parties, including the main opposition CPN (Maoist Center), are ready to stage protests once Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and other leaders complete their addresses.

The government has listed six ordinances in today’s parliamentary agenda, including the Ordinance to Amend Certain Nepal Acts Related to Good Governance and Public Service Delivery, the Ordinance on Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility (First Amendment), the Ordinance on Privatization (First Amendment), and the Ordinance to Amend Certain Nepal Acts Related to Economic and Business Environment Improvement and Investment Promotion. Additionally, two more ordinances concerning cooperatives and land reforms are also on the list for presentation.

Opposition parties have already decided to challenge these ordinances in Parliament. A meeting of opposition parties, held at the parliamentary office of the Maoist Center on Thursday, concluded that they would take a strong stance against the government’s move. Leaders of the opposition have raised concerns regarding the timing and intent behind the ordinances, arguing that the government’s approach is unjustified and procedurally flawed.

CPN (Maoist Center) Chief Whip Hit Raj Pandey has strongly criticized the government for bringing ordinances on January 16 while summoning the Parliament session only on February 1. He stated that such a practice was inappropriate and that the opposition would strongly challenge it in Parliament. He also pointed out that one of the ordinances, the Financial Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility (First Amendment), was already under discussion in the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives. Despite that, the government issued the ordinance without withdrawing the bill, which he described as an unjustifiable move.

Opposition leaders have expressed their intent to not only protest against these ordinances but also raise concerns about public interest issues collectively in Parliament. They have stated that the government’s use of ordinances is against parliamentary norms and democratic principles.

As the session commences, opposition parties are fully prepared to protest as soon as the ordinances are presented. Meanwhile, the government is strategizing to fast-track the replacement bill for the ordinances. The clash between the government and the opposition is expected to dominate today’s parliamentary proceedings, potentially leading to disruptions and heated debates in the House.

Fiscal Nepal |

Friday January 31, 2025, 10:32:28 AM |