India Engineered My Ouster In 2016 Over China Deal, Attempting To Depose Me Once Again: Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli

Embattled Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is fighting a leadership challenge from a powerful faction of the ruling communist party, has accused India of attempting to topple his government claiming that it was angry over Nepal publishing a new political map in an attempt to assert its claim over the dispute Kalapani-Limpiyadhura region, The Hindu reported.

Addressing a gathering at his official residence in memory of the late communist leader Madan Bhandari, , Oli said, “You might have heard from Indian media that the prime minister would be changed in a week or two. You might have heard intellectual discussions in India. This is how the Indian state mechanisms are active…”

Oli also alleged that meetings were underway at a hotel in Kathmandu to oust him and an "embassy (Indian) is also active in it"

“You must have heard that the Prime Minister will be changed in 15 days. If I am removed at this time, no one will dare to speak in favour of Nepal because that person will be dismissed immediately. I am not speaking for myself. I speak for the country. Our party, our parliamentary party will not fall into such traps. Those who are trying, let them try,” said Mr. Oli.

Oli also made a startling claim that he was removed from the position in 2016 just because he signed a treaty on trade and transit with China.

During Oli’s previous nine-month previous tenure, Indo-Nepal ties plummet to a new low, mainly due to his strident anti-India stand and frequent accusations of alleged Indian interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.

Oli's biggest adversary in the party P K Dahal Prachanda has now indicated that he is fed up with the unilateral manner of Oli's functioning. The report adds that Oli is already facing calls to tender his resignation. It is believed that that of the 44 members in the Standing Committee, around 30 are with co-chair Prachanda.

The fault lines were out in the open during the communist party standing committee meeting this week when Oli and Prachanda hurled allegations of failing the government and the party against each other. Though worryingly for Oli, his faction is believed to be in a minority in the crucial committee.

Oli faced a serious challenge to his position in early May and it had then appeared that he would have to step down from the PM’s post. It was the intervention of Hou Yanqi, the Chinese ambassador to Nepal, which saved the day for him. Yanqi had then met Dahal, Nepal and Gautam and urged them to allow Oli to continue in office.

A grateful Oli had then done Beijing’s bidding and upped the ante with India over the border dispute. Oli also played the nationalist card to stave off opposition. “No one within the party (NCP) or the opposition could criticise Oli because to do so would have been construed as going against national sentiments that Oli had incited,” said a senior NCP leader.

Also read - Nepal PM Oli’s Jingoism May Not Save Him From Dissidence For Long