NC–UML revive visa scandal to oust Deputy Speaker, secure council majority

KATHMANDU: In a calculated political maneuver aimed at securing a majority in the Constitutional Council, the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML have revived a one-and-a-half-year-old visa controversy involving Deputy Speaker Indira Rana.

On Tuesday, lawmakers from both parties began collecting signatures, accusing Rana of misconduct and seeking her removal from the post.

The move, agreed upon by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, has sparked fresh turbulence in national politics.

At the heart of the controversy lies a letter Rana wrote two and a half years ago on her official letterhead to the US Embassy, recommending visas for five individuals with no connection to the UN’s “Commission on the Status of Women” program in New York.

The individuals included a transport worker, a land broker, and an ex-soldier, raising accusations of serious misuse of office. Critics alleged that the recommendation amounted to an attempt at human trafficking, though the issue had been quietly settled within Rana’s party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), at the time.

Analysts say the sudden resurrection of this issue is less about integrity and more about arithmetic. Currently, the six-member Constitutional Council is tilted toward the opposition: Speaker Devraj Ghimire (UML), Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, and National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal (Maoist Center) represent the establishment, while opposition figures Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Deputy Speaker Rana balance the council against the ruling coalition. This stalemate has stalled key constitutional appointments, including the Chief Election Commissioner.

If Rana is removed and replaced by a Congress lawmaker, the ruling alliance would secure a clear majority in the council, breaking the deadlock.

What was the visa scandal?

In Falgun 2079, Deputy Speaker Rana requested expedited visas for five individuals—Upendra Gautam, Sushma Lama, Rajesh Lama, Dhan Prasad Gurung, and Sujan Ghartimagar—claiming them as members of her delegation to the UN women’s session.

Investigations later revealed they were unrelated to the event, with some admitting they had paid money in the hope of being taken to the US. This fueled suspicions of a trafficking scheme, though the matter faded without legal consequences.

Internal backlash within Congress

The ruling coalition’s move has stirred significant discontent within NC itself. Senior leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala strongly objected, calling it “political vendetta” and warning that such immature decisions could tarnish the party’s image. Similarly, General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma also opposed the leadership’s approach. Sharma denounced it as a “Baluwatar-cooked, Budhanilkantha-served” decision, referring to Oli and Deuba’s joint maneuvering.

How difficult is removal?

According to Article 91 of the Constitution, removing a Deputy Speaker requires a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. With 274 members, this means 184 votes. NC (88) and UML (77) jointly command 163 votes, still 21 short of the threshold. Efforts are underway to woo support from JSP, Janamat Party, LSP, and Nagarik Unmukti Party, though none has clarified its stance.

Rana, currently abroad, is expected to face the motion upon her return. For now, the episode highlights how old controversies are resurrected and weaponized in Nepal’s high-stakes battle for power and control over constitutional appointments.