Thousands of people marched through the streets of Kathmandu on Tuesday urging Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to reverse his decision to dissolve parliament and call for early elections.
The protesters, who say his decision on December 20 was unconstitutional, rallied outside his office despite coronavirus curbs on gatherings.
Oli says internal squabbling and a lack of cooperation from his party have paralyzed decision-making, forcing him to seek a new popular mandate.
Police officials overseeing security said at least 10,000 people were on the streets to participate in the march.
“We have tactfully managed the rally of about 10,000 protesters,” said Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, a police spokesman.
The country’s top court will in January continue hearing dozens of petitions filed against Oli’s political move and his plans to press ahead with parliamentary elections next year on April 30 and May 10, less than two years before the scheduled date.
Dahal-Nepal faction holds mass protests across the nation against House dissolution
The faction’s Central Committee meeting had decided to hold nationwide protests against the Oli administration’s move from today. https://t.co/Mi0SXdY3Pr — Photos by @AngadDhakal & @Thapakeshav7 pic.twitter.com/45hb5qr8ZF
— The Kathmandu Post (@kathmandupost) December 29, 2020