Results from the National Assembly elections held in six provinces of the country on Wednesday have come out from all provinces and all major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Thursday have given the top priority to the announcement of the results. Different newspapers, however, have reported different figures about the seats won by individual parties as the Election Commission is yet to formally announce the poll results. Nevertheless, the CPN-UML is far ahead of its arch-rival Nepali Congress and its own coalition partner CPN-Maoist Centre.
Important
UML far ahead of other parties in National Assembly
According to government-owned Gorkhapatra, the UML has won total 27 seats in the Upper House, followed by Nepali Congress and CPN-Maoist Centre, which have been restricted to 13 and 12 seats respectively. Madhesh-centric Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal have won two seats each, both in Province 2. The constitutional provision requires that 56 members of 59-member National Assembly be elected from seven provinces whereas three other members will be appointed by the President upon a recommendation from the government.
Meanwhile, the elections recorded 99.52 per cent turnout yesterday, according to Rajdhani. Eight voters were absent in the process. Total 1,677 persons were eligible to cast their ballots.
Decks cleared for new govt formation finally
The process of forming new government is likely to begin within next five days, claims The Himalayan Times. The Election Commission plans to submit final results of proportional representation elections to the House of Representatives to the President within next five days, clearing the way for new government formation, according to the report.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is preparing to tender his resignation next week, according to Rajdhani. Deuba will submit the resignation as soon as the Election Commission will submit final results of elections to the House of Representatives and the National Assembly to the President.
Earlier, Deuba had consulted his advisors on whether to put in papers before the announcement of final results or after that, according to the report.
On the other hand, all provincial assemblies have begun initiatives to elect provincial speakers, according to Janata Post.
Ignored
Court order on Sumargi’s money may cost Nepal credibility
A recent Supreme Court order allowing businessperson Ajeya Raj Sumargi to use the money received from suspicious sources may prove costly to the country as it could be included in the watch list of Financial Action Task Force, warns Republica.
Being listed on the FATF list might put the image of the nation at stake, economists and former officials have been quoted in the report on the condition of anonymity.
Govt silent on medical education corruption probe report
The government has yet to give its official statement over implementation of recommendations, including action against 43 individuals, forwarded by a high-level commission on reported irregularities in Nepal’s medical education sector, according to The Kathmandu Post. Earlier this week, the panel led by former chairperson of Special Court, Gauri Bahadur Karki, had submitted the report recommending acting against Tribhuvan University Vice-Chancellor Tirtha Khaniya, Registrar Dilli Upreti and Rector Sudha Tripathi among others.
No ‘clean’ govt office in hilly, mountainous districts
Office of the Auditor General recently conducted an audit of around 3,200 government offices in 47 districts of hilly and mountainous regions. During the examination, none was found fully adhering to rules and regulations related to financial transparency, according to Annapurna Post.
“It clearly shows how we are getting trapped into a circle of bad governance,” Auditor General Tanka Mani Sharma has been quoted in the report.
Three women raped in Nepal every day
Three women and teenage girls in Nepal are raped everyday on an average, according to Janata Post anchor story. Nepal Police headquarters informs that police recorded total 1,089 rape cases in fiscal year 2015/16.
On the other hand, police officials inform that there are many cases which do not reach police offices and get settled between perpetrators and victims. “Most cases in Terai do not come to us for probe,” Nepal Police spokesperson Manoj Nepal has been quoted in the report.
Rajendra Khadgi dragged into human trafficking probe
The Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police has launched a probe against Nepali film industry’s leading stunt choreographer Rajendra Khadgi after a complaint was filed against him with the charge of human trafficking, reports Naya Patrika. Police said the complainants have claimed that Khadgi collected money from over 15 persons and took them to South Korea and hid them there though he had taken them on the pretext of participation at a programme.
Interesting
Provincial lawmakers want Karnali Highway to reach China
Members of Province 6 Assembly have launched a discussion on possibility of extending the Karnali Highway upto a border point with Tibet of China, according to Karobar.
Province 6 is only one among seven provinces of the country which does not share border with India, hence the lawmakers want to prioritise connectivity with China, the report informs. “We do not have any alternative to moving ahead with a collective commitment to develop this province as a model province of the country,” Maoist Centra lawmaker Naresh Bhandari has been quoted in the report.
