KATHMANDU, 20 December, 2020, (TON): Nepal’s president has dissolved Parliament at the request of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s cabinet and announced that general elections would be held in April and May, more than a year ahead of schedule.

Move comes after Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli recommended dissolution of the Parliament’s House of Representatives at an emergency Cabinet meeting as a feud rages within his Communist Party.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s office said in a statement the next vote will be held on April 30 and May 10, as recommended by the cabinet.

Oli, 68, pushed for a fresh mandate after the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) accused him of side-lining his party in government decisions and appointments.

“The prime minister has lost the majority in the parliamentary party, central committee and the secretariat of the party,” said Bishnu Rijal, an NCP central committee member.

“Instead of seeking a compromise within the party, he chose to dissolve Parliament.”

Meanwhile, constitutional experts have termed the move to dissolve Parliament as unconstitutional.

Politics in Nepal is also influenced by its neighbour India, who has been keeping a wary eye on China’s stepped-up efforts and growing clout in a country that New Delhi considers its own back yard.

After PM Oli’s win in 2017, he had vowed to ensure political stability and fight corruption and poverty but has made little progress, especially since the pandemic.