As the issue of the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR) continues to be the crux of political debate, key leaders of the CPN (UML) have started singing different tunes on this topic.

Deputy Prime Minister and UML leader KP Sharma Oli
(File photo)

While most of the senior UML leaders have not been vocal against the latest ‘understanding’ at a tripartite meeting between the Maoists, UML and Nepali Congress leaders on Friday to find an alternative legislative body in place of the HoR, Deputy Prime Minister and UML leader KP Sharma Oli has opposed the idea of immediate dissolution of the House.

“We don’t know about the agreement to dissolve the parliament. The 4th point of the 8-point agreement talks about ‘suitable alternative’ before the dissolution. The 3rd point is about management of arms,” he said, adding, “Only after completing the works outlined in the 3rd point can we enter into the process of House dissolution.”

“While we seem to be missing out on necessary duties, destroying everything that is incumbent is not good,” Oli said.

Bam Dev Gautam

Senior UML leader Bam Dev Gautam
(File photo)

On the contrary, senior UML leader Bam Dev Gautam said the parliament should pave way for a political solution instead of posing obstacles.

“The views expressed against the June 16 agreement reached at the summit talks, in the everyday parliamentary discussions, prove that the parliament is coming in the way of constituent assembly and a forward-looking solution,” Gautam said speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Reporters Club on Sunday in Kathmandu.

Both Oli and Gautam are Standing Committee members of the UML, one of the main constituents of the seven-party alliance (SPA).

Speaking at the same interaction programme, UML central leader and tourism minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is also a member of the government’s talks team said the insistence to give continuity to the parliament without considering the sentiment of a partner of the movement [Maoists] would not help the ongoing talks process.

“We have no objection if there is consensus to continue the parliament. But it’s not logical to insist on keeping the parliament for a long period by ignoring the sentiments of a partner of the movement. This won’t help in the talks process,” he said.

Maoist leader and talks team member Dina Nath Sharma said it was useless to hope that the parliament would do anything do abolish monarchy and feudalism from the country. “If the seven parties guarantee the end of monarchy and feudal system, we will surrender our arms right now,” he added.