President Bhandari dissolves House, declares elections for April 30 and May 10

Kathmandu, 2020 December 20, Sunday

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has endorsed the Oli government’s recommendation for the dissolution of the House of Representatives.

The Office of the President said in a notice that President Bidya Devi Bhandari has approved the recommendation, pursuant to Article 76 (1) and (7) and Article 85 of the constitution, of the Council of Ministers to dissolve the House of Representatives.

The President has also approved the Cabinet’s recommendation for holding general elections on April 30 and May 10 next year.

“The President has endorsed the government’s recommendation to dissolve the House,” said Tika Dhakal, information and communication expert to the President. “The election has been set for April 30 and May 10 next year.”

According to Kathipur Post The Oli Cabinet on Sunday morning had decided to recommend the House dissolution.
Constitutional experts, however, say the constitution does not allow a majority prime minister to recommend House dissolution.

Oli’s move of dissolving House comes on the heels of a deepening crisis in his Nepali Communist Party where he has slid into the minority with the opponent faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Madhav Nepal and Jhala Nath Khanal demanding his resignation for failing on the governance front and to abide by party decisions.