With the completion of National Assembly elections, political parties have shifted their attention to the new government formation process and it is clearly reflected on the first page of Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Friday. The newspapers have covered the issue from different perspectives. Likewise, selection of provincial parliamentary party leaders in various parties has also received significant attention. Some newspapers have highlighted a meeting between CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to discuss issues about the new government formation and their unification has also been prioritised significantly.
Important
Govt formation before party unification
Rajdhani lead story for the day says the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre have agreed to form a coalition government before finalising the unification between two parties. A meeting between chairmen of two parties—KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal—respectively held in Kathmandu yesterday, however, decided that the modality of unification would be prepared before the new government. Janata Post has also carried the similar story, adding the two leaders have criticised themselves for unexpected delay in the unification process and decided to give it a momentum at the earliest.
On the other hand, Gorkhapatra puts it quite differently and says the two parties have agreed to take up both the jobs simultaneously. The two leaders will hold a meeting today as well for further discussions.
Meanwhile, Nagarik says there are six models for the new government at the present political situation as per the current circumstances though it is most likely that the two communist parties will form the coalition government as they are preparing for the merger.
Likewise, Gorkhapatra lead story for the day explains the constitutional provisions for the new government formation.
Ignored
Number of dormant accounts increasing
Abhiyan lead story for the day says the number of dormant accounts at commercial banks of the country is increasing. Many people open two or more than two bank accounts, but limit their regular transactions to the only, giving the rise in the number of dormant accounts, the report says, informing that it no money is deposited in or withdrawn from an account, it is called a dormant account.
Janakpur locals protest use of Hindi at Assembly
Local youth of Janakpur, the temporary provincial capital of Province 2, have launched a protest against the use of Hindi language in the first meeting of Provincial Assembly earlier this week, reports Republica. Tensions have worsened as locals are not buying the argument of leaders that it is the easier language medium for connecting the diverse communities in the Madhesh region.
Three stranded Nepalis return from Afghanistan
Three Nepali citizens, who were living in ‘captive-like’ conditions without legal documents in Afghanistan, have finally managed to leave the country and come back home, reports The Kathmandu Post.
Govinda Paudel of Kaski, Hem Prasad Gurung and Min Bahadur Kshetri of Parvat had reached the country in 2015. After around 10 months of their entry into the war-hit country, their Kabul-based employer refused to extend their visa and work permit; hence they were hiding since then, according to the report. Now, they have returned home as the government waived fines they had to pay for overstaying without visa.
Deuba planning to distribute Rs 140 million among his cadres
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is planning to distribute as much as Rs 140 million to relatives of his Cabinet colleagues and top government officials, claims Kantipur in its anchor story. The next Cabinet meeting will endorse the proposal to distribute the money in the name of medical treatment costs, the report says. The newspaper claims that it has received a list, according to which 1,064 persons are receiving Rs 25,000 to Rs 2.5 million each.
Meanwhile, Naya Patrika also says the government’s recent decisions do not comply with various rules and regulations set for decision making.
Interesting
Nepal secure one-wicket victory over Namibia
Nagarik and The Kathmandu Post have published on the front page that Nepal defeated the hosts of Namibia by a narrow margin of one wicket in their first match under the ICC World Cricket League Division Two. Nagarik attributes the victory to ‘patient’ batting of Basant Regmi, who scored a six in the ultimate over as Nepal chased the 139-run target posted by Namibia.
The Kathmandu Post informs that Nepal needed seven runs off the last over for the victory and Regmi and Sandeep Lamichhane scored nine runs in the 49th over and knocked off seven in the first three balls to take the team home.
