Kathmandu: Veteran Communist leader K P Sharma Oli swore in as Nepal's 38th Prime Minister, a day after he was elected in the Parliament with help from smaller parties. Oli, 63, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Ram Baran Yadav at his official residence. He has already formed a small cabinet, incorporating two deputy prime ministers; Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Kamal Thapa, and five ministers. The leader who now has his hands full with challenges like the protests and blockade of a key border trade point with India, over the country's new Constitution, defeated former premier and Nepali Congress Chief, Sushil Koirala.
In the voting, held in the Parliament, Unified Marxist Leninist chairman Oli, garnered 338 votes, 39 more than the 299 he needed to win, while Koirala only managed to secure 249. While he was backed by UCPN-Maoist, Rashtriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic and other parties, Koirala was supported by four Madhes parties in the United Democratic Madhesi Front. The new Nepali PM has served as Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Girija Prasad Koirala-led government that was formed immediately after the 2006 People's Movement. His government comes at a very crucial time when the small Himalayan region faces violent political protests by the Madhesi people who disagree with the new Constitution. Also, the country is locked in a diplomatic standoff with India over the supply of essential goods, including petroleum products, which were hit due to blockade of border trade points with India following the violence.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his counterpart, conveying that he hopes Oli would address the political issues facing the country in the spirit of dialogue and reconciliation. He also invited the newly elected PM to India, saying he looked forward to closely work with him. Modi told Oli he had been elected in democratic and orderly elections, and conveyed his “hearty congratulations”.
Meanwhile as over 5000 cargo vehicles wait at the Indian border to cross over into Nepal and New Delhi staying optimistic that the Nepalese political parties will find a solution to the crisis, the Nepal government appears to have come to a decision of introducing an amendment to the new Constitution on the two major issues that fuelled the protests; proportional inclusion in state organs and, highlighting population as the major basis for delineation of electoral constituencies.
The protests have caught the eye of the European Union, which has asked the Nepalese political parties to work out a “prompt solution” to a problem that could pose serious crisis in the future. In a statement, it said, “The ongoing talks represent a unique opportunity to make progress in this direction and the Heads of Mission encourage all involved to take advantage of it in a spirit of responsibility and compromise.”
