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Kathmandu, Aug 19:  The ruling CPN-UML and its coalition partner Nepali Congress are preparing to remove Deputy Speaker Indira Rana Magar. They are using a letter she wrote two and a half years ago as the basis, invoking Article 91(6)(c) of the Constitution.

On February 26, 2023, Rana wrote to the US Embassy in Kathmandu requesting visa interview dates for herself and six others to attend the NGO CSW-67 event in New York. She named Upendra Gautam, Sushma Lama, Rajesh Lama Tamang, Sujan Ghartimagar, and Dhan Bahadur Gurung in her letter, stating the program was important and carried a UN invitation. But the embassy, after finding no confirmation of those individuals’ participation, did not schedule interviews. This raised questions about her use of the Deputy Speaker’s letterhead for others.

As a Deputy Speaker, Rana is entitled to a diplomatic passport and free visa for official visits, which are arranged by the Federal Parliament Secretariat in coordination with the Foreign Ministry. Her attempt to facilitate visas for private individuals sparked controversy at the time, with critics accusing her of conduct unbecoming of her position. Congress and UML now argue that her actions violated the dignity of the office.

Another reason for her removal lies in the Constitutional Council. The Deputy Speaker is an ex-officio member of the Council, which also includes the Prime Minister, Speaker, Chair of the National Assembly, Chief Justice, and Leader of the Opposition. Since Rana is from the opposition Rastriya Swatantra Party, she sides with the opposition in the Council. At present, the ruling alliance lacks a majority there.

Because of this, the Council has been unable to recommend names to fill long-vacant posts in constitutional bodies, including the Election Commission. The government had tried to amend the Constitutional Council Act to allow decisions by majority vote, but President Ram Chandra Poudel returned the bill unsigned. With that route blocked, Congress and UML now see removing the Deputy Speaker as the way to tilt the balance.

Lawmakers from both parties have begun collecting signatures to table a motion against her. Emerging from Singha Durbar, Congress MP Durlabh Thapa said, “Our party instructed us to sign, so we did. The time has come to remove the Deputy Speaker.”

People’s News Monitoring Service