Technically, KP Sharma Oli might have lost the trust vote and confidence of the Nepalese Parliament, but he looks set to wrest control of the government, having the single largest votes in the Parliament and a supportive President may long for a comeback. Oli’s rival Sher Bahadur Deuba may have to wait a little more as cobbling a working majority may not come handy.
Crucial to his prospects will be the support of Terai region’s Janata Samajbadi Party (JSO), which split during Oli’s confidence vote with one half supporting him and other half voting against him. Oli’s China rhetoric, along with his territorial spat with India at a time when the Indian armed forces are engaged taking on the likes of the People’s Liberation Army in eastern Ladakh, were mocked, ridiculed and condemned by the JSP, which is considered pro-India.
Oli had to side-step from a few of comments, opinions and statements after a group of high-ranking Indian delegation expressed their displeasure and dissatisfaction. Oli is a tight-lipped politician who wisely weighs all his options and thoughtfully arrives at an inference — something which is totally unheard of among his rivals including Prachanda and Deuba.
Oli has already lost a lot of popular support that re-elected him in 2018. Even if he were to hold on to his chair, then he should fight for people’s rights and make it his political objective, otherwise, he would cease to exist. Nepal’s Covid surge has also contributed to the chaos, confusion and contradiction.
There is a lack of medical access and infrastructure that has resulted in a sharp deterioration and large casualty. In this regard, Nepal can’t afford to be drawn into political instability and volatility, as others may refrain from taking note of the fact, especially for India, which has close cultural and community ties with this Himalayan region.