Koshi Province Assembly Passes Policy Program Without Allowing Amendment Time, Speaker Faces Backlash
A dispute has erupted in the Koshi Province Assembly after the government’s policy and program was passed without allocating time for amendments. Indrabahadur Angbo, the leader of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) parliamentary caucus, accused the Speaker of stripping lawmakers of their right to propose amendments, going against parliamentary norms and traditions. The assembly was suspended until 11 a.m. Wednesday after the Speaker and opposition members clashed during an extended question-and-answer session that disrupted proceedings.
May 26, Biratnagar – The Koshi Province Assembly passed the provincial government’s policy and program without granting time for legislators to submit amendments. The policy, submitted to the assembly on May 20, underwent discussions starting May 23. During the session held on Tuesday afternoon, Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki responded to questions raised by legislators. However, Speaker Ambar Bahadur Thapa declared the policy and program decisively passed on the basis of consensus.
Opposition parties protested, claiming the session was disrupted because the policy was passed without allowing any amendment proposals. NCP opposition lawmakers alleged that the Speaker deliberately ignored parliamentary values by denying time for amendments and then pushing through the program. A lengthy question-and-answer exchange ensued between opposition legislators and the Speaker. Following the Speaker’s announcement that the policy program had been passed unanimously, opposition members questioned his role in the process.
While the policy program had been tabled in the assembly on May 20 and discussion had taken place, Indrabahadur Angbo, leader of the main opposition NCP parliamentary group, said the Speaker did not provide time for registering amendment proposals. When questioned, the Speaker responded that the program had been passed in accordance with the 2017 provincial assembly rules. Former Chief Minister and NCP legislator Rajendra Rai reminded the assembly of parliamentary tradition and asked the Speaker, “When reading a bill or policy program, should we be allowed to submit amendments, or is it the Speaker’s prerogative to allot us time?”
Speaker Thapa defended his decision by citing Rule 37 of the 2017 Provincial Assembly Rules, stating, “Every honorable member is expected to have studied the rules. It is accepted that members themselves will present any amendments. This understanding forms the basis of the unanimously adopted rules.” Opposition members continued to voice their objections. Opposition leader Angbo declared that their right to amend had been denied. “Previously, we submitted amendments within the time given by the Speaker,” Angbo said. “On what grounds does the Speaker claim that opposition support or opposition to the policy was assessed? The policy should not be passed without allowing time for amendments.”
Under parliamentary tradition, a minimum of 72 hours is generally provided for amendments to policies or bills, although this period can be reduced when warranted. The hasty process without granting such time in Koshi Province sparked controversy. As questions mounted in the assembly, the Speaker found himself in a difficult position and postponed the session until 11 a.m. Wednesday. “We are surprised that the provincial policy program was passed unanimously for the first time without any amendments,” Angbo said. “The main reason for opposition resistance was the denial of amendment proposals. Why did the government rush this process? Why did the Speaker rush such an important matter?”