Despite facing a murder case and controversy, Agni Prasad Sapkota of the ruling Nepal Communist Party has started his job of the Speaker from Tuesday.
Sapkota, who faced a murder case, was proposed as the Candidate of Speaker by the chairs duo of the ruling Nepal Communist Party after holding several rounds of talks. Party chair and Prime Minister Oli wanted Subas Nembang to lead the House while another chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal wanted someone from the former Maoist party as former Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara was from the Maoist group.
Finally, PM Oli gave up his stance paving the way for Sapkota’s election to the top legislative post. However, Sapkota’s nomination caused a stir within the ruling party after Sushil Pyakurel resigned from the post of advisor to President Bidya Bhandari. Pyakuryal was one of the human rights activists who had filed a murder cases against Sapkota when he was appointed Communication Minister some six years back.
It was reported that Oli abandoned the idea of making Nembang Speaker when Bam Dev Gautam and other leaders intervened in a dinner. The latest case in which PM Oli bowed down before Dahal suggested weakening position of Oli in the party.
After getting elected as Speaker on Sunday, Sapkota assumed his office on Monday and conducted House meeting on Tuesday. PM Oli, Opposition party leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and others congratulated him.
While congratulating Sapkota, PM Oli reminded him of his main duty of endorsing the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Of Course, Oli had agreed to make Sapkota Speaker on the condition that he would help approve the MCC. Mahara was removed for opposing MCC bill.
Photo by: Danfe TV
