China envoy to Oli rescue again, meets Nepal’s President

Read| Nepal ruling party split on meet with China, leaders cite India row

When the revolt against Oli gathered momentum in May, ambassador Hou had held separate meetings with leaders of the ruling NCP to grant Oli breathing space.

On Sunday night, three former Prime Ministers – Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Jhala Nath Khanal and Madhav Nepal – met President Bhandari and complained about Oli and the “lack of trustworthiness”.

They also told Bhandari there was no truth in Oli’s claim that moves were afoot to dislodge the President too. “Not even in our dreams” did such a thought occur, sources quoted the leaders as telling the President.

Read| Nepal’s ruling communist party’s meet to decide PM KP Sharma Oli’s future deferred

Sources said the leaders told Bhandari not to support any Oli move against the constitution and the party – there is speculation that Oli may promulgate an ordinance and try to split the party to remain power.

On Monday, when Prachanda met Oli, sources said the Prime Minister asked him: “So you led a delegation?”.

Amid the political drama, police in Kathmandu approached three leading hotels to “find out about the presence and activities of Indian spies”, sources said.

This comes in the wake of Oli’s remark in Parliament that activities in some hotels was proof of an Indian plot to topple his government. This angered his party rivals who said he should prove his charge or resign, and that he had landed the party and the government in a spot with unsubstantiated charges.