KHATMANDU, 24 May, 2021, (TON): Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari issued an ordinance to amend the Nepali Citizenship Act.

The President's office said in a statement that the President had issued the Nepali Citizenship (first amendment) ordinance pursuant to Article 114 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal.

The amendment was one of the demands put forth by the Mahantha Thakur-Rajendra Mahato faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal to provide their support to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

After the issuance of the ordinance, citizenship by descent will be provided to offsprings of 'bona fide' citizens of Nepal, those owning citizenship by birthright. Likewise, as per the ordinance, the children whose mothers are Nepali citizens but their fathers' identities cannot be established, will be granted Nepali citizenship.

For the past two years the bill was under discussion in the House of Representatives but was not endorsed due to disputes among the parties, reported by the Himalayan Times.

Earlier, Nepal's President dissolved the House of Representatives for the second time in five months and announced snap elections in November, rejecting both embattled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the Opposition alliance's claims to form a government.

The next election will be on November 12 and 19 as per the recommendation of the Cabinet.