Nepal leaders deny any government change plans

Kathmandu

Top leaders of Nepal’s ruling parties , the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and the Nepali Congress, have dismissed talks about a possible government change, local media reported.

Speculation increased after opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal supported Congress Chief Sher Bahadur Deuba to replace current Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Some Congress leaders also expressed uneasiness about Oli’s working style, according to The Kathmandu Post.

However, returning from Bangkok, Deuba told reporters there would be no change. "Our alliance is intact and not going to change," he said. Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba confirmed that Oli had spoken with Deuba over the phone to settle the rumours about political instability.

"There is no chance of a government change. This is just a rumour," said Arzu Deuba.

Prime Minister Oli also said he would step down and hand over power to Deuba after 14 months, as agreed when they formed the coalition government in July last year. "I will resign after 14 months and hand over the premiership to Deuba," Oli told reporters after attending a House of Representatives meeting.

Although relations between the coalition partners seem shaky, both parties insist there is no major problem.

Recently, Congress leaders decided to review the government's performance due to growing street protests and rising public frustration. The two-party committee, created to help the coalition work smoothly, met and discussed key issues like teachers' demands.

After the meeting, both sides agreed to continue working together and rejected claims of conflict or an early government collapse.