Nepal Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli defended his government’s controversial decision to dissolve the House of Representatives and told the Supreme Court that it is not up to the judiciary to appoint a Premier as it cannot undertake the legislative and the executive functions of the state.
The Supreme Court issued a show-cause notice on 9th of June to the Office of the Prime Minister and the President’s Office to furnish a written response within 15 days. The top court received Oli’s response via the Office of the Attorney General today, a local news paper reported.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari, at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, dissolved the House for the second time in five months on 22nd of May and announced snap elections on 12th and 19th November. Prime Minister Oli is heading a minority government after losing a trust vote in the house.
The Prime Minister also defended the involvement of the President in this whole issue, saying that Article 76 of the Constitution grants the sole right to appoint a Prime Minister to the President only.
Nepal plunged into a political crisis on 2oth of December last year after President Bhandari dissolved the house and announced fresh elections on 30th April and 10th of May at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP).
In February, the top court reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives, in a setback to embattled Prime Minister Oli who was preparing for snap polls.
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