KATHMANDU, May 4: 11 parties including main opposition CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal and Nepal Democratic Forum has formed an alliance to demand the withdrawal of impeachment motion against Chief Justice Sushila Karki recently filed by the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center).

11 party alliance issuing a joint press release has warned that they would not allow the parliament to function unless the motion is withdrawn.

“The motion brought by the NC-Maoist Center is unconstitutional, undemocratic and against the system. So we have demanded the motion be withdrawn. We will obstruct the House unless it is withdrawn,” UML General Secretary CP Mainali said to Reporter’s Club Nepal.

JANAKPURDHAM, May 4: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi has said that he withdrew his resignation citing he realized his responsibility to address Madhes issues, constitution amendment, local level election and peoples’ need.

Talking to media persons at Janakpur Airport today, DPM Nidhi clarified that he agreed to withdraw his resignation realizing the responsibilities.

It may be noted that Nidhi had submitted his resignation before the Prime Minister on April 30 showing dissatisfaction to the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice Sushila Karki.

He added that some Madhes based leaders had also suggested him to rethink about his resignation.

In response to a question regarding the impeachment motion against the chief justice, he said that the proposal might be retracted. DPM Nidhi further said that the constitution amendment bill will be finalized soon. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 1: The Nepali Congress has said that the impeachment motion was brought against Chief Justice (presently suspended) Sushila Karki to maintain the prestige of an independent and impartial judiciary.

At a press meet organised by the NC publicity coordination subcommittee at the party central office today, party leaders accused the Supreme Court (SC) of giving intentional verdicts going against the principle of independent judiciary and interfering in the government’s executive rights.

Speaking on the occasion, party General Secretary Dr Shashank Koirala said the NC was always in favour of an independent and fair judiciary and the CJ had to be impeached just to safeguard the prestige, dignity and image of the judiciary.

In response to journalists’ query as to who the party was sending to the post of Home Minister now lying vacant with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bimalendra Nidhi resigning from the post, General Secretary Koirala said the matter would be finalised by a meeting of party top leaders.

Party former General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula claimed that there would be no impact on the election of a first round scheduled for upcoming May 14 if the constitution amendment proposal remained unendorsed till then. Efforts would be continued to pass the amendment bill. On the occasion, he took time to share that party’s preparations for the upcoming local-level election have neared the final phase.

Also speaking on the occasion, Sub Committee coordinator and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Ramesh Lekhak claimed that the party was in favour of free, independent and efficient judiciary, and the impeachment motion against the CJ was to keep the image and prestige of the apex court intact.

It is noted that a total of 249 lawmakers from major ruling partners NC and CPN (Maoist Centre) Sunday registered a motion of impeachment against Karki at the Legislature-Parliament Secretariat. Dissatisfied with the move to impeach Karki, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Nidhi who was heading the party in the coalition government resigned from the post same day.

NC to choose candidates for poll by today
Nepali Congress (NC) has said that it will decide on the candidates to contest in the first phase of local level election by today itself.

The government has made decision to hold first phase of election in Province No 3, 4 and 6 on May 14 and the second phase in Province No 1, 2, 5 and 7 on June 14.

The meeting of the NC’s meeting of the office-bearers and former office-bearer is underway to determine the candidates for the same.

The Election Commission of Nepal is to make public the list of the nomination of the candidates on May 2. NC party office Secretary Dr Pradeep Parajuli has said that NC would decide on the candidates by tonight.

The NC earlier had entitled the party’s mechanism in district for choosing the candidates for municipality, sub-municipality and rular municipality while the NC’s central level mechanism would decide on the for the metropolitan cities and sub-metropolitan cities.

But since dispute ensued for the candidate selection for some local units in Province No 3 and 4, NC ‘s central level mechanism has taken the matters into its hand.

NC has already dispatched its manifesto to all level and formed election mobilization committee and publicity committee too. RSS

Polls will take place in the scheduled date at any cost

KATHMANDU, May 1: Leader of CPN (Maoist center) Ram Narayan Bidari has said that impeachment motion against Chief Justice Sushila Karki would be finalized after discussion in the Parliament.

Speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Monday,

He also claimed his ignorance about signing the impeachment motion. “I don’t know how my signature got there. I have not signed the impeachment motion.”

He however said, “If my signature was used after party’s decision, I will have no objection. I am devoted towards my party.”

Commenting on the impeachment motion, he said, “the motion will be discussed in the House, and sent to Impeachment Recommendation Committee where charges and then views will be reported to the parliament.”

“One-fourth of the lawmakers have filed the motion. But it is yet to be endorsed.”

Stating that the Chand was appointed in due process of law, he said, “The Judiciary should not interfere the executive’s decision going against the power of separation.”

He claimed that the ruling coalition’s move to file the impeachment motion would not have any impact on the local level election and added, “The local polls will take place at any cost.”

KATHMANDU, May 1: The CPN (Maoist Centre) has concluded that the impeachment motion had to be brought against the Chief Justice (presently suspended) Sushila Karki as the judiciary was found interfering with the executive’s jurisdictions.

A meeting of the party headquarters took place at the Prime Minister’s official residence today, stating that interfering in the affairs of the executive was against the rule of law and democracy, claimed that the matter of impeachment would help further boost up the prestige and image of independent judiciary.
In the meeting, Prime Minister and party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal briefed about the impeachment, according to party Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal.

The meeting viewed that the registration of an impeachment motion against the CJ would not have any impact on the local-level election at all. “The government is committed to holding the election on the planned dates,” the meeting declared.

The meeting, reviewing the country’s latest political situation, the ongoing election preparations, constitution amendment issues and other overall political affairs in the country, ended with the agreement to meet again this evening.

The CPN (Maoist) headquarters is meeting again this evening to discuss the issues, Bhusal added. RSS

KATHMANDU, May 1: Bhim Acharya, secretary of the main opposition CPN-UML condemned the Nepali Congress and Maoist Center coalition lawmakers’ move to file impeachment motion against the Chief Justice Sushila Karki and added UML will not let the motion get endorsed at any cost.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Monday, Acharya said, “It is unfortunate. It is wrong. It is an open attack to the independence of the Judiciary.”

He added, “She has done nothing wrong to be sacked. In fact, she was courageous and fiercely independent and was not afraid to do what she believed was right.”

He further added that the NC’s and Maoist Center’s move had shocked their party and his party would react strongly to the ruling coalition move. “We will not let it pass through.”

Acharya clarified that the cases of Lokman Singh Karki and CJ Sushila Karki were totally different from each other and added, “Lokman’s appointment as CJ was controversial. We had objected over the Lokman’s appointment.”