For the UML to respect the mandate of the people, it is imperative that they unite, search for a consensus candidate to lead the government and form a government under Article 76(2). Although Oli has taken a step towards party unity by withdrawing the suspension of rival leaders, only time will tell us whether it is a correction or just a tactical move.
If the present leadership of factions cannot garner a simple majority, they can resort to Article 76(5) and ask Mahanta Thakur of the JSP for support in parliament. But, for this, Mahanta Thakur will have to show a majority of 40 percent in the central committee and parliamentary party to divide his party.
For the people of Nepal, the situation appears to be the same as that seven decades ago, with politicians bickering over the top post at the expense of the welfare of the people. For Nepalese politicians, ‘old habits never seem to die’.
(Sambridh Ghimire is a graduate of NLSIU, Bangalore. He is an electoral advisor based out of…