16 June, Pokhara. As the Supreme Court dismissed Chief Minister Khagraj Adhikari and ordered Surendraraj Pandey to be appointed, there was excitement within the Congress in Gandaki. They were happy that the Congress government was going to be formed in the state when there was an alliance with UML and Maoists at the center.
After the government was formed at the time of bringing the budget, Congressmen from various districts and Kaski reached Pokhara Hall, the place of swearing in of Chief Minister Pandey. Congress leaders and workers were congratulating each other. However, when the outgoing chief minister and UML parliamentary party leader Khagraj Adhikari appeared at the swearing-in ceremony, everyone’s attention turned to that.
Even though he was dismissed by the Supreme Court, Khagraj Surendra and 2 ministers remained in the program throughout the oath period. He congratulated Chief Minister Pandey and left only after the program was over.
Khagraj has behaved exactly opposite to the acrimonious relationship among the leaders with the change of government and the culture of not going to the swearing-in ceremony.
Since the implementation of federalism, there has been a change of government for the sixth time in Gandaki province and 4 chief ministers have been appointed. However, the leaders of the party that has been out of power, MPs and the Chief Minister were not seen at the swearing-in ceremony. Khagraj reached the swearing-in ceremony and congratulated Pandey by shaking his hand.
Opposition leaders and MPs were not present at the swearing-in ceremony of Prithvisubba Gurung, who was appointed as Chief Minister on 29 January 2074. When Krishnachandra Nepali Pokharel was the Chief Minister of UML overthrowing the government on 29th June 2078, Prithvisubba did not take the oath but congratulated him over the phone.
During the second term of federalism, Khagraj Adhikari became the Chief Minister on December 25 last year with the support of Maoists and RPP, at that time even Pandey, who had left the state with the plan to become the Chief Minister himself, had not taken the oath. Even Khagraj had not taken the oath of Pandey who was appointed on 14 Baisakh at that time.
Surendraraj, who was in the minority with the power coalition at the center again, resigned on 21st Chait and Khagraj became the Chief Minister on 25th. However, Congress leader Surendra, who is preparing to go to court himself for using the Speaker’s vote, is considered natural not to take the oath. Even after taking the vote of confidence, Surendra reached the Supreme Court again after the speaker gave a decision in favor of Khagraj, considering 30 people as a majority.
The Supreme Court has ordered to relieve Khagraj and appoint Pandey. Many people expressed interest in Khagraj, who attended the swearing-in ceremony after his appointment on Wednesday. He was also accused of using the speaker against the spirit of the constitution, but Khagraj argued that in the unstable parliamentary politics, more explanation is needed on some provisions.
After the verdict in favor of Surendra, Khagraj tried to show that if he participates in the oath, he will not be a permanent friend or friend in politics. Along with Khagraj, Maoist Parliamentary Party leader and former minister Hari Bahadur Chuman also reached the swearing-in ceremony.
“In any case, the outgoing chief minister’s participation in the swearing-in ceremony and congratulating him has presented an example of political culture,” Vindukumar Thapa, who held the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Development and Energy, Water Resources and Drinking Water, responded on Wednesday.
