Declares elections for April 30 and May 10
AMN / KATHMANDU
Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today dissolved parliament at the request of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s cabinet.
President’s office said in a statement that the elections will be held on April 30 and May 10 next year, more than a year ahead of schedule.
Amid rising intra-party rift, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli recommended to the President to dissolve the parliament at an emergency meeting of the Cabinet this morning.
“The President has endorsed the government’s recommendation to dissolve the House,” said Tika Dhakal, information and communication expert to the President. “The election has been set for April 30 and May 10 next year.”
The Oli Cabinet on Sunday morning had decided to recommend the House dissolution.
Constitutional experts, however, say the constitution does not allow a majority prime minister to recommend House dissolution.
Oli’s move of dissolving House comes on the heels of a deepening crisis in his Nepali Communist Party where he has slid into the minority with the opponent faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal demanding his resignation for failing on the governance front and to abide by party decisions.