KATHMANDU, Nov 25: CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said that the party will participate in the House of Representatives (HoR) election announced by the interim government led by Sushila Karki.
Speaking exclusively to Nagarik Frontline, a weekly show produced by Nepal Republic Media Limited, at his residence in Gundu on Monday, Oli stated that the UML would contest both the National Assembly and HoR elections. He added that the party would register with the Election Commission on the date designated for election-related procedures.
Oli’s remarks come at a time when the UML continues to press for the reinstatement of the dissolved HoR, even as the Karki-led government has already scheduled the HoR election for March 5. Oli, who is also the outgoing prime minister, accused certain groups of spreading rumours that the election would be derailed because of the UML.
He insisted that if the election does not take place as scheduled, full responsibility would lie with the government. He further remarked that the interim government was not formed with the intention of holding elections.
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While reaffirming the UML’s participation in the polls, Oli said the party’s bottomline remains the reinstatement of what he termed an unconstitutionally dissolved HoR. He argued that addressing the demands raised by the Gen Z movement requires constitutional amendments, making the restoration of the HoR essential.
Warning that the country has already plunged into a deep crisis, Oli claimed that an all-party government—including representatives from the Gen Z movement—is necessary to chart a way forward. He reiterated that reinstating the HoR is crucial to bring the constitution back on track.
In a separate context, Oli said the UML would reject the commission formed to investigate the incidents of September 8 and 9. Using unequivocal language, he stated, “The UML has not accepted, and will not accept, that commission.”
Oli said he had already communicated his views to the investigation commission, adding that the panel appeared more focused on publicising the possible arrest of him and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak than on conducting a fair probe.
He asserted that the UML would not support a committee it does not recognise and about which it has already made its position clear. “I am under no obligation to accept them as an impartial commission. I act according to my conscience. I have already heard their decision. I have heard the prime minister’s decision, the home minister’s decision, and various orders issued over time. I am aware of many things through different channels,” he said, accusing the probe panel of bias from the outset.
“Given this, the commission should either have been dissolved or publicly clarified its position. Therefore, either they should resign, or those who formed the commission should remove them and appoint someone else,” he added.
Oli, who stepped down as prime minister following the Gen Z protests of September 9, said he was the one who initially raised the need for a commission and had already decided to form one under a former judge to investigate the events of September 8. “The cabinet meeting on September 8 had already decided to form a commission under a former judge to investigate what happened that day. So the decision to form a commission was mine,” he said.
He added that while no major incident took place on September 9, the events of September 8 warranted a thorough investigation. However, he said the UML could not accept the commission formed later by the succeeding government, as its members had already expressed predetermined views and engaged in what he described as biased behavior. “There is no question of recognising such a commission. I will not recognise it, and the UML will not recognise it,” he said.
Expressing anger over what he described as constitutional violations, Oli also claimed that a parliamentary session could be convened at Army Headquarters. He said that Parliament could have been summoned under the protection of the army. “On the 27th, when Sushila Karki was made prime minister, there was no security breakdown. The constitution prohibits a former chief justice from becoming prime minister; surely they were aware of that. The constitution should have been amended, or another arrangement made, by convening Parliament,” he said.
The full interview will air on Tuesday evening on Nagarik Frontline.
