Nepal PM Oli throws last dice to save his chair

Nepal Communist Party co-chair Prachanda (left) is pushing for resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli over a range of issues including his obsessive anti-India stance. (Photo: Reuters file)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Nepal PM Oli wants President Bhandari to prorogue Parliament session
• Prorogation would save him from facing no-confidence vote
• Rival faction led by Prachanda wants Oli to resign over issues including anti-India policies

• n a hurriedly convened meeting of cabinet ministers, Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has made his last ditch attempt to save his position.

  The cabinet has recommended that President Bidya Devi Bhandari prorogue the ongoing session of Parliament without delay. This comes at a time when a rival faction of the ruling party led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal is pushing for Oli's resignation.

  The prorogation of Parliament session, if President Bhandari accepts the cabinet decision, would mean no floor test for Oli under the current circumstances. This will buy him time for his ordinance that allows him to split the ruling Nepal Communist Party. He had to withdraw the ordinance back in April.