Major Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Sunday have published reports about preparations for the unification between CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre with the topmost attention. Whereas some newspapers claim that there is an unnecessary delay in conclusion of parleys being held for last few months, others say the discussions are going on positively and the merger will be announced soon. As the CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli assured his office as the Prime Minister for the second time last week, some newspapers have revisited promises made by his government earlier and assessed how they can be implemented this time.
Important
Why delay in UML-Maoist merger?
UML Chairman Oli and his Maoist Centre counterpart Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting on Saturday in a bid to iron out differences about ideologies and organisational structure of the new party that they are going to form. The meeting, however, could not make any concrete decision.
Though the two top leaders seem committed to the merger plan, some second-rung leaders of both the parties have not cooperated with the unity bid and the process is failing to get momentum just because of them, claims Rajdhani. Likewise, Nagarik lead story for the day says the unification process has been delayed owing to lack of a common understanding between them about crucial issues. The Himalayan Times also says the meeting was fruitless.
Republica says the major cause of unexpected delay is the management of key leaders including former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. Another report in the same newspaper says the two parties are in a fix to pick their candidates for the new president and vice-president.
Janata Post, in contrast, says the top two leaders have agreed to settle all issues including the new party’s leadership, organisational structure, and the composition of new government in a package. Annapurna Post also says the talks are going positive though it was earlier reported that they soured. Naya Patrika also carries a similar story.
Meanwhile, the Party Unification Coordination Committee is scheduled to have a meeting today.
Oli orders review of Deuba’s decisions
The Kathmandu Post reports that new Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has ordered officials to review controversial decisions made by the erstwhile Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government.
He has directed Chief Secretary Lok Darshan Regmi to keep some decisions taken after the completion of parliamentary elections on hold.
Major decisions that will be reviewed include political appointments in government agencies, decision to lower the threshold for elderly allowance, declaration of martyrs and the decision to cancel the contract of Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the government is preparing to withdraw three names nominated by Deuba government for the National Assembly membership and recommend three new names, according to Rajdhani. Few days before putting in papers, Deuba had picked Krishna Prasad Paudel, Gopal Basnet and Chandani Joshi for the Upper House berths, but the President is yet to appoint them.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress has warned that revoking decisions made by the government would make fun of the ‘Cabinet system’, according to Naya Patrika. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba also consulted Yagya Bahadur Thapa, who was the Minister for Law in his government, over the issue, informs the report.
Quoting constitutional and legal experts, The Himalayan Times says the caretaker government also has full rights to make decisions, however it should avoid making policy decisions and decisions that could commit the new government, according to the report.
Ignored
Liquidity crunch hits hydel projects hard
Many hydropower projects of the country are facing a financial crisis as banks and financial institutions have failed to release loans to them as promised earlier thanks to current liquidity crunch, according to Karobar.
Financial institutions are not releasing the committed amount claiming it would affect their credit-to-deposit ratio. Around 160 hydro projects are affected from the problem, according to the report.
Madheshi parties may join govt
Two key Madhesh-centric parties—Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal—are positive about joining the federal government under UML Chairman Oli’s leadership, claims Nagarik.
Earlier last week, before his appointment as the PM, the UML Chairman separately met Forum-Nepal’s Upendra Yadav and RJPN’s Mahantha Thakur and requested them to extend support to the new government, the report informs, adding Oli told the leaders that he was not against their demand for constitution amendment and was ready to address genuine demands.
Oli had assured that he would meet them against before the new government formation, but could not do so owing to his busy schedule for discussions with the Maoist Centre for past unification.
Interesting
Finance Ministry prepares draft bill about taxation rights of provincial govts
The Ministry of Finance has prepared a draft for the consideration of provincial governments to formulate laws for provincial taxation, according to Rajdhani lead story. According to the Ministry’s proposal, the provincial governments will collect tax under six headings; namely: land and house registration, vehicles, entertainment businesses, advertisements, agricultural income and tourism activities.
The draft has already been sent to all provincial governments, according to the report.
Meanwhile, the government is yet to take initiatives for drafting the law for security arrangements at the province level, according to Kantipur lead story.
