KATHMANDU, April 29: Political tensions have intensified after the government recommended a total of five ordinances within days of suspending its earlier decision to summon parliament session from April 30, triggering a strong and coordinated backlash from opposition parties that have accused the executive of undermining democratic norms and bypassing the legislature.
The latest flashpoint came on Wednesday when the government recommended three additional ordinances to President Ramchandra Paudel. According to sources at the Office of the President, the ordinances relate to universities, health, and amendments to certain Nepal laws. This followed an earlier decision on Monday to recommend two ordinances concerning the cooperative sector and the Constitutional Council.
The sequence of events lately has raised serious constitutional and political questions, as the ordinances were introduced immediately after the government suspended the parliamentary session it had itself called. Under constitutional provisions, ordinances cannot be issued while Parliament is in session, a restriction that opposition leaders argue the government has deliberately circumvented.
The controversy has united opposition forces. Four parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, convened a joint meeting on Wednesday under the leadership of Nepali Congress parliamentary party leader Bhishmaraj Angdembe. The meeting concluded with a strongly worded statement condemning the government’s actions as “undemocratic and unparliamentary,” and urging the President not to approve the ordinances.
The statement, also signed by Ram Bahadur Thapa, Yubaraj Dulal, and Saraswati Lama, called for the immediate withdrawal of all five ordinances and demanded that the suspended session of the Federal Parliament be reconvened without delay. The opposition argued that the government’s decision to first summon Parliament and then abruptly prorogue it, only to introduce ordinances, amounted to an attempt to bypass legislative scrutiny.
The developments stem from a rapid chain of decisions taken over the past week. A Cabinet meeting on April 21 had recommended convening a parliamentary session for April 30, which was subsequently called by President Paudel. However, just two days later, on April 23, the government advised the President to suspend the session, citing special reasons. Within days of the suspension, it moved ahead with ordinances—first two on April 27 and three more on April 28—covering key governance areas.
Oppn parties to reject recently introduced ordinances
Particular attention has been drawn to the ordinance related to the Constitutional Council, which comes at a time when the six-member body has just been fully constituted. The council includes the Prime Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chairperson of the National Assembly, Chief Justice, and the Leader of the Opposition. Notably, the Nepali Congress had appointed Angdembe as its parliamentary party leader on the same day, completing the CC’s composition required for recommending appointments to constitutional bodies.
Senior leaders of the main opposition have warned that the government’s approach could trigger a broader political and constitutional crisis. Nepali Congress leader Gagan Kumar Thapa accused the government of adopting an arrogant stance and failing to engage with the opposition despite its constitutional role. Speaking to journalists in Sarlahi, he warned that such behaviour could “ultimately lead to an accident” and create unnecessary complications in governance.
Thapa stressed that both the government and the opposition derive legitimacy from the same electoral process and must work through dialogue. He criticised the Prime Minister for not initiating even a single round of discussion with the opposition on critical issues such as appointments to the Constitutional Council, adding that bypassing Parliament despite holding a majority reflects disregard for democratic practice.
Echoing similar concerns, NC General Secretary Pradeep Paudel questioned why a government with a comfortable majority would resort to ordinances instead of legislative deliberation. He argued that such actions undermine parliamentary supremacy and weaken the foundations of accountability and transparency in a democratic system.
Amid the criticism, the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has defended the ordinances, saying they are intended to address urgent public concerns and expedite decision-making. RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane has defended the government’s ordinances, saying they are aimed at necessary reforms rather than serving as instruments of political vendetta.
Speaking at an informal meeting of the party’s parliamentary party on Wednesday, Lamichhane said past governments had misused ordinances to split political parties or target opposition forces, but insisted the current measures were different in intent and purpose. “Earlier, ordinances were brought to split parties or detain opponents,” he said. “The current move is not intended to harm anyone or benefit any particular group; it is meant for necessary reforms.”
Lamichhane argued that public expectations cannot be met without correcting past practices marked by excessive politicisation and flawed appointments. He pointed to long-standing vacancies in constitutional commissions and other state bodies, saying these have hindered timely decision-making.
He said meeting public expectations requires both proactive governance and what he described as “measured political assertiveness.”
Bottom of Form
RSP’s Chief Whip and General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti said the existing legal and administrative processes are often too slow to respond to immediate needs, citing examples where even minor procedural matters can take months to resolve.
According to him, the ordinances are aimed at streamlining cumbersome procedures and delivering timely results, rather than benefiting any individual or political party. He said the public mandate demands quicker outcomes, and the ordinances are a response to that expectation.
All five ordinances have now been forwarded to President Paudel for consideration. His press adviser Kiran Pokharel said the documents are currently under study.
As the President weighs the recommendations, the confrontation between the government and opposition appears set to deepen, with the latter vowing continued resistance unless the ordinances are withdrawn and parliament is reconvened.
