NCP split: Session of Karnali Province Assembly in uncertainty

The impact of a split in the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has surfaced in the Assembly of Karnali Province. As a result, a Provincial Assembly session has been in a limbo- the meeting of the thematic committees has also not taken place so far. 

There has not been any preparation for calling the session. Earlier, two sessions were affected due to Covid-19 pandemic. 

The provincial government was not in a mood to call the assembly session soon fearing a no-confidence motion against it, it is said. The 40-member Provincial Assembly of the province has 22 members from Dahal-Nepal group, while 11 from the side of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, six from main opposition Nepali Congress and one from Rastriya Prajantra Party. Dahal-Nepal camp has majority members in the seven-member Council of Ministers of the province. 

A secretariat meeting is ready to take place once the government calls a Provincial Assembly session, said the Provincial Assembly Secretary Jibraj Budhathoki. "There is a provision that province chief calls a Provincial Assembly session on the recommendation of the provincial government. Gap between two sessions should not exceed more than six months. Summer (budget) session ended late. So the winter session should be called until 21 April," he said. 

However, the Provincial Assembly member can call a special session before that date, he said. 

Three bills that completed deliberations at the thematic committees of the Provincial Assembly are ready for the submission in the Assembly meeting for the deliberation and endorsement.