The Nepal Weekly 
July 23, 2024
Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who won a floor test in Parliament on Sunday with more than a two-thirds majority, vowed to begin a “new chapter” in Nepali politics, nearly a week after he was sworn in to lead a coalition government.
Oli secured 188 votes in favour of the Vote of Confidence motion tabled by him while 74 votes were cast against him. Out of a total of 263 members of the House of Representatives who were present, one member abstained.
PM Oli required 138 votes to pass the floor test in the lower house of Parliament.
“I declare that the motion of the vote of confidence tabled by Prime Minister Oli has been endorsed with a majority,” announced Speaker Devraj Ghimire after the counting of votes.
“We have to build a modern, systematic and democratic society. It does not mean anarchism. Democracy and anarchism are two different things. Democracy without anarchism, disciplined democracy. We need a kind of comprehensive democracy, not just in one sector. Democracy not in word but in practice,” the 72 year old veteran Communist leader said.
“The Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are working towards this direction. I think, other parties are also understanding this fact gradually. Let’s begin a new chapter in Nepali politics,” Oli said.
With Oli getting more than two-thirds majority, the new coalition government is expected to amend the Constitution.
According to Nepal’s Constitution, Oli needed to secure a vote of confidence from Parliament within 30 days of appointment. He was sworn in on Monday as Nepal’s Prime Minister for a fourth time.
Earlier while tabling the motion seeking a vote of confidence in his government, Oli made public the content of the seven-point agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML earlier this month.
Oli said that the agreement between the two major parties was part of the two largest parties’ efforts to address the country’s pressing issues.
“We [the two parties] compete in our ideologies, but there are instances of collaboration between the Congress and the UML,” he said. “This is a continuation of that collaboration. We have agreed to work together to protect national interests, control corruption, improve governance, expedite development activities, and ensure political stability, in accordance with the people’s desire,” Oli said.
Oli said his government will neither tolerate corruption nor let it happen. He said the government will confidently move forward for good governance.
Responding to issues raised by the lawmakers, Oli said, “I was not and will not get involved in corruption neither will tolerate if any one practices so.” He said the planned amendment to the Constitution is for the interest of the country and the welfare of the people.
“We are amending the Constitution for making it more effective, safeguard democracy and guaranteeing good governance and to move forward the pace of development,” said Oli.
He also rejected the charges that he committed land embezzlement during the previous tenure.
