Rastriya Swatantra Party Analyzes MP Attendance After Quorum Failures

Kathmandu. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has prepared a study report by summoning a list of MPs who attended Parliament and then left from the Parliament Secretariat. As ruling party MPs have been seen increasingly absent recently, RSP Parliamentary Party Chief Whip Kabhindra Burlakoti had instructed his whips to analyze attendance. The RSP has nearly two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives, but as the quorum has been affected, Burlakoti instructed Chief Whip Prakash Chandra Pariyar and Krantishikha Dhital on July 22 to summon attendance from the Parliament Secretariat, analyze it, and submit a report within 7 days. He had instructed to analyze attendance on Asar 30 and 31, and Saun 14, 18, and 22. Chief Whip Burlakoti said that the whips have been instructed to summon attendance for five days, analyze it, and submit a report. 'Attendance for five days has been summoned from the Parliament Secretariat and is being studied. I have instructed the whips to analyze and submit a report. Who was absent on those days? How many attended and left? How many stayed for the entire meeting? We are preparing a report analyzing all of this,' Burlakoti said. Currently, the government is led by the RSP. There is no numerical difficulty in passing any bill of public importance in Parliament. However, as the quorum was not met in the Parliament meeting held on Saun 26, the proposal on the Mines and Minerals Bill, 2083 could not be presented for decision. According to the constitution, at least 69 MPs are required for a decision, but as only 61 were present, Speaker Dolprasad Aryal informed that the proposal would be presented on Bhadra 1. Article 94 of the Constitution of Nepal makes provisions regarding quorum in Parliament. Article 94 states that the presence of one-fourth (25 percent) of the members is mandatory to present any question or proposal for decision in Parliament. Questions were raised in the House as the attendance of ruling party MPs was low in that meeting. It was alleged that RSP MPs themselves are not serious about Parliament as the instruction given by Chief Whip Burlakoti was not followed. However, Burlakoti said that a decision will be taken only after discussing with the whips whether to make the list of individuals public or not. He said, 'We can say how many attended Parliament on those days, but it is not appropriate to make the list of individuals public now. We will decide what to do after discussing with the whips.' However, he stated that MPs who are absent from Parliament will be warned and even punished. The Parliament meeting has been affected due to the devastating flood that came from China's Tibet Autonomous Region into the Bhote Koshi on Bhadra 10, causing significant loss of life and property in coastal areas including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading. The Parliament meeting has been postponed indefinitely as rescue, relief, and management of the affected area residents are necessary. The RSP has instructed its leaders and cadres to go to the affected areas, suspending all regular work schedules.