Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel on Friday resigned following differences with the Prime Minister and due to the deteriorating political situation, he said. Due to the country's worsening situation, increasing terrorism and rampant corruption I have resigned, Paudel, who is also the home minister, told the House of Representatives. He said that he was quitting after failing to convince Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to step down.
Opposition parties have also been demanding that Koirala resign over his alleged involvement in a controversial deal to lease an aircraft from Laudaair of Austria. He has also come under fire for his handling of a Maoist insurgency, which has left hundreds of policemen dead this year alone. And, as the minister of royal palace affairs, he faced criticism after King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and several other members of the royal family were massacred by Crown Prince Dipendra at the royal palace.
The opposition parties have been boycotting the parliamentary session in protest at Koirala's failure to step down. The house is running without major political opposition because of the Prime Minister's adamant attitude, Paudel said.
Paudel's resignation came shortly after Nepali Congess government on Friday passed the crucial accounts bill at the Parliament by a majority of votes.
But as usual, the opposition parties walked out of the Parliament as the bill was put to a vote.
Bureau Report