If two chairs have agreed, PM Oli has to step down: Dr Rajan Bhattarai (With video)

KATHMANDU, June 26: The agreement reached between Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal will be implemented, said PM’s foreign affairs advisor Dr. Rajan Bhattarai.

“If the two chairs have agreed to head the government turn by turn, Dahal will become prime minister once Oli completes two-and-a-half-year at the office,” said Dr. Bhattarai in a television interview Janata Janna Chahanchan.

Chair Dahal has reiterated that the party will move forward as per the agreement signed between the then CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) during the unification process. On May 30, talking to Dhamala on Janata Janna Chahanchan, Dahal had brought up the five-point agreement which said the two co-chairs will lead the government for equal periods of time. Dahal had also expressed confidence that PM Oli will respect the agreement and was optimistic about getting the premiership.

Asked will the PM hand over the government to Dahal, Bhattarai said, “Chair Dahal has brought up this. But, PM Oli has not said anything about the agreement.”

“Unless an official statement from both chairs comes, I cannot say anything.”

“What I have understood is that Oli has been elected for the full five-year term”.

“Even Chair Dahal has accepted this. Other senior leaders have also said the same.”

“But, if they have agreed on leading the government for an equal period of time, it will be implemented. PM Oli will have to step down,” he said.