Nepal’s embattled Prime Minister KP Oli resigned on Sunday ahead of a no-confidence vote, plunging the country into a fresh political turmoil after last year’s crippling Madhesi protests against the new Constitution.
Oli, who became Prime Minister last October heading Nepal’s eighth government in the past 10 years, has been facing a no-trust motion after the Maoists withdrew support for the coalition government.
Oli tendered his resignation after two key ruling alliance partners — Madhesi People’s Rights Forum -Democratic and Rastriya Prajatantra Party — decided to support the no-confidence motion tabled against him by the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-Maoist Centre led by Prachanda.
They had accused Oli of not honouring his past commitments.
Addressing Parliament on the no-confidence motion, Oli said that he came to power nine months ago when the country was in a grave crisis and was “sad” that the government was changing at a time when it is overcoming the hindrances following last year’s deadly earthquakes that killed nearly 9,000 people.
The 64-year-old CPN-UML leader said he was being punished for doing good work.
Oli said Nepal-India relations were at an all-time low during the time he assumed power last year. However, with his efforts the relations were normalised.