PM Oli steps down after 287 days in office

This moment is not the end of time, Oli says in his valedictory speech

KATHMANDU: Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday announced his resignation in the Parliament after the conclusion of deliberations on the no-confidence motion against him.

Seeing his coalition partners forsaking him and the no-confidence motion almost certain to pass, the CPN-UML chairman took the step to prevent himself from further humiliation. He spent 287 days in Singhadarbar as Nepal's executive head.

After responding to the no-confidence motion, Prime Minister Oli told the House he already tendered resignation to the President.

"Madam Speaker, I have met the Honourable President  before coming to this respectful House. After the budgetary bills were rejected from the Legislature-Parliament, I have understood the majority of members of the Legislature-Parliament that elected me as the Prime Minister do not have support to me, whatever be the reason. I have already said - the post of Prime Minister is not my only target and destination. Thus, at the changed scenario, I would like to inform that I have already tendered my resignation to the President with a decision to pave the way for this House to elect a new prime minister."

He further informed the House that he recommended the President to use the Article 305 of Constitution as per the Cabinet's decision to remove difficulties on formation of new government.

In his 110-minute valedictory speech, Oli thanked the Parliament, members of his team and coalition, security agencies and people among others. He further expressed his and his party's readiness to help the new government implement the Constitution.

The Parliament had elected CPN-UML Chairman Oli as the country's top executive on October 11, 2015 as per the Constitution, which was promulgated on September 20. He had assumed his office the following day.

Forming an alliance with the then UCPN-Maoist (now CPN Maoist Centre), Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic, Rastriya Prajantantra Party and other fringe parties, Oli had succeeded in securing the berth at Singhadarbar. CPN-UML and Maoist party had accused the then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala of breaching the gentle agreement among them to make Oli his successor.

Oli had defeated Sushil Koirala, who was also the president of Nepali Congress, in the prime ministerial elections in the Parliament at the time the country reeled under the border blockade and shortage of essential commodities.

As many as 587 lawmakers, out of 597, had taken part in the voting and 338 had lent their support to Oli.

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What’s in the Article 305

Power to remove difficulties: If any difficulty arises in connection with the implementation of this Constitution until the commencement of the first session of the Federal Parliament, upon being elected in accordance with this Constitution, the President may, on the recommendation of the Government of Nepal, Council of Ministers, issue necessary orders to remove such difficulty; and such orders must be submitted to the Legislature-Parliament or Federal Parliament, held immediately after the issuance of such orders, for approval.

@keshuvko