After around two weeks of disagreements and disputes, major political parties are heading towards consensus over contents of the proposed National Assembly ordinance and President Bidya Devi Bhandari is likely to enact the law so as to facilitate the formation of upper House, major newspapers have published in the front page today. On the other hand, the Election Commission has also called parties to register their names for the National Assembly polls, hinting the new government will be formed soon after the National Assembly is elected and the House of Representatives will also get full shape.
Important
President likely to enact ordinance after UML’s withdrawal from stance
Naya Patrika lead story says President Bhandari is preparing to enact the National Assembly ordinance very soon after the CPN-UML, which has been emerged as the largest party of the country from recent parliamentary elections, has withdrawn itself from its stance that single transferable voting system should be removed. It means the National Assembly will be elected through the single transferable system as proposed by the government in the ordinance.
However, newspapers have different messages about when the President will enact the law. The Kathmandu Post says she will do so next week whereas Republica, quoting an anonymous political source, says the head of the state is likely to introduce the ordinance today itself.
Earlier, President Bhandari had consulted CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal about the ordinance, according to Annapurna Post. She was meeting leaders of different political parties for last few days.
Meanwhile, a writ has been filed at the Supreme Court demanding immediate enactment of the law to elect the National Assembly, reports The Himalayan Times.
Parties called to get registered for National Assembly
While the President is yet to enact a law for the National Assembly elections, the Election Commission has issued a notice to political parties to register their names for the polls, informs Gorkhapatra. A meeting of the commissioners headed by Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav called parties to register the names within next 15 days, according to the report.
The Kathmandu Post informs that political parties listed with the Commission as per Article 269 of the constitution are eligible to register, adding only 49 of 125 total registered parties had contested proportional representation elections for House of Representatives recently.
Though the process for polls has begun, the elections will be held after at least two weeks and the new government formation will be subsequently delayed as the House of Representatives will not get full shape till then, according to Kantipur.
UML finalises list of provincial lawmakers under PR system
The largest party in House of Representatives, CPN-UML, has finalised the names of its lawmakers to represent the party in seven provincial assemblies and many newspapers have published the news on the front page.
Rajdhani says there are five men and 70 women among total 75 lawmakers. The party was under the compulsion to elect more women so as to meet the constitutional requirement that at least 33 per cent of its lawmakers should be women. Most of UML lawmakers elected under the first-past-the-post system for both House of Representatives and provincial assemblies were men.
Meanwhile, leaders attending the party’s Standing Committee meeting held yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the role of current caretaker government and the Election Commission as they tried to delay the new government formation process, according to Kantipur. The leaders also stressed that the party’s proposed unification with the CPN-Maoist Centre should conclude as soon as possible.
Disputes mar Cabinet meeting
At least two disputes—one between Energy Minister Kamal Thapa and Urban Development Minister Dilnath Giri and another between various ministers and Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi—were seen during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, according to newspaper reports.
Naya Patrika says Rastriya Prajatantra Party leaders Thapa and Giri sought each other’s resignation. While Giri tabled a proposal to transfer his ministry’s secretary Dipendra Nath Sharma with the charge of non-cooperation, his party Chair Thapa objected to the proposal saying he was not consulted about it.
On the other hand, various ministers accused Chief Secretary Regmi of not cooperating with the ministers after knowing that the new government would be formed soon. Nagarik lead story for the day says the ministers had spent most time of four-hour meeting over the same issue.
Ignored
Left alliance to include Forum in new govt
The left alliance consisting of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre have made an understanding to include Upendra Yadav-led Federation Socialist Forum-Nepal as well in the federal government they are going to form, according to The Himalayan Times lead story. The report, however, maintains that the Forum has been adamant on its demand of constitution amendment to join the government.
Ghee and oil from 11 manufacturers inedible
Department of Food Technology and Quality Control under the government says ghee and oil produced from 11 factories in various districts of the country are inedible, Annapurna Post reports in its lead story for the day. Quoting the Department’s Director General Sanjeev Kumar Karna, the report warns that consumption of products from these factories may result in various diseases including diarrhoea, food poisoning, typhoid and jaundice.
Interesting
Government gives Rs 100,000 to each wheelchair cricketer
The Cabinet meeting on Thursday decided to provide Rs 100,000 to each member of Nepal’s national wheelchair cricket team which won a three-country tournament recently, according to Annapurna Post. Total 14 players, one coach and one manager will get the cash prize, report informs.
Nepal Wheelchair Cricket Association says it is happy with the government decision.
