Although he did not make reference to any country, it was clear to understand that Chairman Oli was hinting mainly at India. 

KATHMANDU, Jan 8: Alleging that the Nepali Congress (NC) with a tacit support from some ‘foreign powers’ was trying to topple the government led by the Chairman of CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal even before it could secure vote of confidence, former prime minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli has said that they cannot accept foreign interference in the formation of a new government in Nepal.

Addressing an orientation program organized for the newly-elected members of House of Representatives (HoR) of his party in the capital on Saturday, UML Chairman Oli said that Nepalis had achieved “big success” by forming a new government on their own. He also alleged that external powers were still working to see if they could change the current ruling coalition or topple the government itself.

Although he did not make reference to any particular country, it was clear to understand that Chairman Oli was hinting mainly at India. There is a perception in the political circles of Nepal that New Delhi wanted to keep the NC-led alliance in power and that the plan was foiled in the eleventh hour.

While dismissing concerns that some countries may have towards the government led and supported by leftist parties, Chairman Oli said that no one has to be concerned or get scared with the new government. “We want to have balanced and cordial relations with all our neighbors. There is no need to make this an issue of ego or to get scared when a new government is formed here [in Nepal],” he clarified.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari on December 25 appointed Maoist Center Chairman Dahal, who garnered support of 169 lawmakers, as new prime minister of the country. The Maoist Center, which had forged an electoral alliance with the Nepali Congress (NC) during the November 20 general election, decided to break the alliance and joined the UML-led alliance to form a new government.

Chairman Dahal had decided to part away from the NC at the eleventh hour after UML offered him the post of new prime minister—something NC denied till the end despite an informal understanding reached earlier. 

“We have achieved this success. There was a plan to not let Nepalis form their own government. This is an extremely big achievement,” said Oli, who had announced plans to break the NC-led alliance at any cost even before the election.

Chairman Oli clarified that he was forced to make statements about foreign powers as they were trying to maneuver the government formation in Nepal. “Even now, our friends, coming here not from the door but jumping from the walls into the compound itself, are asking how Nepalis can form a government on their own. I am forced to make this statement as they are still trying to change the government,” he said.

On the occasion, Chairman Oli also said that diplomatic activities had increased significantly in Nepal in recent days. He also urged neighbors and friendly countries to act in line with the principle of sovereign equality.

Oli’s salvo of accusations against ‘foreign powers’ comes in the wake of reported remarks made by NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba that NC will come back to power anytime soon. Addressing the orientation program, Chairman Oli also alleged that the NC had conspired to topple the government even before it could secure a vote of confidence from parliament on January 10.

 
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