Nepal’s ruling coalition government could break up later today. Kathmandu based Yubaraj Ghimire, Editor of the online portal deshsanchar.com, told StratNews Global on the phone that the Nepali Congress (NC) is expected to pull out its ministers from the coalition following reports that Prime Minister Pushp Kamal Dahal (Prachand), has struck a deal with KP Oli of the opposition Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML).
The breakup comes ahead of the coalition’s half-way mark tenure when, under an agreement or understanding with the NC, Prachanda has to step aside as prime minister for its leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to take over. There was also discord over Prachanda’s determination to contest the post of chairman of the national assembly even though it was earlier agreed that would go to the NC.
Prachanda has a history of flip-flops. He was earlier in alliance with the CPN-UML but walked out after its leader KP Oli refused to step down as prime minister despite an understanding that Prachanda would take his place.
Ghimire told StratNews Global that Prachanda is expected to continue as prime minister in coalition with the CPN-UML even though his party the Maoists has just 32 members in the national assembly as against 79 of the former. Oli is expected to stay in the background although, as the more powerful coalition partner, he is likely to be the power behind the throne.
China may have played an active role in bringing this about, although it is hard to substantiate.
Prachanda was in India last May, on his first bilateral visit, and the two countries appeared to be turning the page on a difficult relationship. With the anticipated return of KP Sharma Oli, relations with Delhi could get choppy. Oli is known to be close to China and, in 2020, as prime minister, had laid claim to the Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadura. The national assembly also voted to incorporate these lands into Nepal.
