Gandaki PA Session adjourned as NC boycotts

KASKI: A session of the Gandaki Province Assembly (PA) came to an abrupt halt today after the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, opted to boycott the proceedings.

The meeting, which commenced with much anticipation, was promptly adjourned indefinitely due to a clash between the ruling and opposition factions.

Speaker Krishna Prasad Dhital made the announcement a mere six minutes after the session commenced.

The agenda for the session included a bill on the regulation of pesticide usage, slated to be presented by Minister without Portfolio, Hari Bahadur Chuman.

Speaker Dhital cited the absence of PA members from the Nepali Congress and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) as grounds for the postponement until further notice.

Nepali Congress, in its stance, argued that the summoning of the PA session was unconstitutional, citing a Supreme Court order directing the Assembly to refrain from making decisions with long-term implications, barring regular operational matters.

During the meeting, a letter from Province Chief Dilliraj Bhatta was read aloud, expressing concerns over the summoning of the session and deeming the formation of a new government and the session summoning as unconstitutional.

Nanda Prasad Neupane, NC Chief Whip for the province, reiterated the party's stance, asserting that they would not participate in a session that disregards the interim order of the Supreme Court, the Constitution, and legal provisions.

The party indicated it would await the final verdict from the Court before considering attending any further sessions.

The party contends that it is unconstitutional and contrary to parliamentary norms to convene a House session while a case is sub judice in court.