KATHMANDU, Oct 9: Two major political parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, are weighing legal options to challenge the recent dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR), expressing doubts over the interim government's ability to conduct timely elections in a free and fair manner.
Party leaders say they are "keeping the legal option open" as the country faces heightened political uncertainty, weakened law and order and a lack of security assurances for the upcoming polls.
The interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has come under increasing pressure as the HoR election — scheduled for March 5 — approaches. A month has already passed since then Prime Minister KP Oli resigned on September 9 following the GenZ protests, leading to Karki's appointment as prime minister on September 12. On the same day, President Ram Chandra Paudel dissolved the HoR and announced the election date. The move came while the legislature's budget session was still in progress.
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NC Spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said the country is currently in a state of great uncertainty as the law and order situation has deteriorated and the government does not appear capable of ensuring security for elections. "In such an uncertain environment, parties are discussing keeping the legal option open to challenge the dissolution," he said.
Party insiders said a faction within the NC has initiated talks with the UML to coordinate a joint legal challenge at the apex court. Senior NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula has been liaising on behalf of NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba.
NC General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma are expected to table their positions at the party's Central Committee meeting scheduled for October 12. While the NC initially opposed the dissolution, a majority within the party now leans toward contesting fresh elections.
The UML, meanwhile, has already expressed strong opposition to the dissolution. Addressing a press conference in the capital on Wednesday, UML leader Mahesh Basnet revealed that the party is considering filing a petition demanding the reinstatement of the HoR. "We are consulting legal experts on whether to file the case through the party or via independent legal practitioners," Basnet said.
In contrast, the CPN (Maoist Centre) has yet to clarify its stance. Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal recently stated that his party supports holding elections on schedule. The looming legal and political battle over the HoR dissolution is expected to further shape Nepal's evolving political landscape in the coming weeks.
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