Modern Diplomacy
It has been a few months since the Himalayan state of Nepal, landlocked between northern India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, has been witnessing an internal power tussle within the ruling Nepal Communist Party.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on December 20, managed to get the President’s nod to dissolve the 275-member lower house of the Parliament, triggering spontaneous protests in all major cities, including capital Kathmandu. The move has also invited strong criticism from the Opposition and constituents of the ruling coalition.
The lower house, or the Pratinidhi Sabha as it is called, was expected to serve for a term of five years. With its dissolution, the President has called for fresh elections in a two-phased manner to be held next year in April-May.