Seeking a Neutral Speaker and a Strong Opposition in Parliament

On Monday, 11 members of the House of Representatives participated in congratulating the newly elected Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal. RSWP MP Manish Jha emphasized that Parliament should function as a Gurukul and a university, with the Speaker maintaining a neutral role. Nepali Congress MP Arjun Narasingh KC elaborated on the significance of the Speaker’s neutrality and privileges, citing the 1642 events in the United Kingdom. Kathmandu, 24 Chaitra.

The House of Representatives spent an hour in a special session on Monday, with 11 MPs speaking. All had already extended their congratulations to the newly elected Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal. They also offered suggestions for the Speaker to play a neutral role in the coming days. While wishing Speaker Aryal well, lawmakers expressed concerns about the potential weakening of Parliament, urging that the government heed Parliament’s voice and that the concerns of a weak opposition should not be ignored. Discussions began on what the Speaker’s role should be to prevent such issues.

Members from the ruling party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSWP), also participated. RSWP MPs Manish Jha and Ganesh Parajuli, along with Nepali Congress MP Arjun Narasingh KC, discussed the privileges of MPs and the Speaker. They explained the role of Parliament members using examples from international practices and Nepal’s past experiences.

Speaker Aryal has repeatedly expressed his commitment to maintaining neutrality. Before the session began on Monday, he also pledged to serve as an impartial coordinator. Nepali Congress MP Arjun Narasingh KC underscored the importance of a neutral Speaker, stating, “The Speaker must guard their privileges and be prepared to face any circumstance; only then does neutrality hold true.”