Kathmandu, June 19 -- Prime KP Sharma Oli, usually so voluble and full of wit and confidence, appeared forlorn and dejected at the House of Representatives rostrum on Tuesday.

Oli had stepped forward to address the House, after being allowed to speak first by Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara. But the moment Oli took to the podium, the opposition Nepali Congress gheraoed the well, preventing the prime minister from speaking.

Standing mute at the podium for about 10 minutes, unable to exercise his characteristic gift of gab, Oli appeared visibly frustrated, at one moment even putting his head on the podium.

The trouble began before Oli even stepped onto the rostrum, with both Oli, co-chairman of the ruling Nepal Communist Party, and Sher B...