Nepal’s Parliament Selects Communist Party Leader Khadga Prasad Oli As New Prime Minister Amid Political And Economic Challenges
Communist leader Khadga Prasad Oli is faced with challenges after he was selected as the new prime minister of Nepal on October 11, making him the first prime minister after a new national constitution was signed last month.
Oli garnered a total of 338 votes from the 597 members of Nepal's parliament, while former prime minister Sushil Koirala received 249 votes, as noted by The Guardian on the same day.
After he was declared the new prime minister of Nepal, Oli vowed to deal with the struggles following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that shook the country and reportedly killed more than 9000 people and injured over 23,000 individuals in April.
"I will work alongside everybody to implement the constitution, repair the damage inflicted by the earthquake and address the hardships raised by the Indian blockade," Oli said, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald on Oct. 12.
According to reports, Nepal blamed India for allegedly enforcing a blockade in an effort to oblige Kathmandu to listen to the orders of those in the plains of the south. However, India denied the accusations.
Aside from that, the new prime minister will have to deal with the continuing protests over the promulgation of the new federal constitution, which transforms Nepal into a secular republic from Hindu monarchy.
Oli considered his appointment "an honour and a challenge." The 63-year-old leader of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) has won the support of smaller groups as well its rival United Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
Meanwhile, Nepal Sadbhavna Party leader Rajendra Mahato reportedly said Oli "is a known opponent of the rights of the people in Terai," as forecasted by The Hindu on Monday.
He adds that they will continue to hold protests in 20 districts in the region of Terai to object the appointment of Oli as the new prime minister. Mahato says he will continue to keep the blockade on until the Kathmandu surrenders.
Meanwhile, Nepal's Ambassador to India asks the "Madhesi parties to at least make a temporary opening in the blockade due to the Vijaya Dashami festival ahead."
"The new Prime Minister has taken over and the immediate issue on his agenda is to ensure clear supply lines for the essential goods like kerosene," says Deep Kumar Upadhyay. "Already a dialogue committee has been created between the government and the Madhesi parties, which addresses India's official concerns."
