Minister for Communication and Information Madhav Paudel at the Reporters Club Nepal on Wednesday, Mar 20, 2013 (Photo: Mukunda Kalikote)

KATHMANDU: Newly appointed Finance Minister Shankar Prasad Koirala has pledged to provide means and resources needed for holding the fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.

“There will be no financial lacking for election. Finance Ministry will arrange everything.” The secretary turned minister was talking to media after assuming his office on Tuesday.

Similarly, Minister Koirala said giving a boost to the nation’s economic growth was his main objective. He also informed that the finance ministry working to prepare both the supplementary budget and full budget.

Minister Koirala also assured to create an investment-friendly environment in the country in his bid to expedite the economic growth.

Earlier, the Election Commission had asked Rs 7 billion from the government to complete all tasks related to the fresh CA poll.

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s apex court on Monday issued directives to the Chairman of Interim Electoral Council Khilaraj Regmi for not executing any task by assuming the power of Chief Justice.

Though Regmi has been leading the IEC as per the political understanding between political parties, he has not resigned as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court which he plans to rejoin after a political government is formed by holding CA elections.

A single bench sitting of supreme court justice Girish Chandra Lal imposed such restriction upon Regmi while responding to writ petition filed by advocate Dr. Chandra Kant Gyanwali.

In the petition Gyanwali had urged the court to restrict Regmi from addressing himself as the Chief Justice until he is chairman to the IEC and also for restricting him from performing any role in the capacity of Chief Justice.

KATHMANDU: The Chief Justice led electoral government of Nepal is gearing unto expand its cabinet on Monday. Though political parties had agreed to form a 11-member cabinet, there are only three members in the present cabinet.

Reliable sources claimed that remaining members of the cabinet will be administered of oath of office and secrecy after some while tonight at Singhadurbar.
The new ministers were selected by political parties and the names were recommended by the Puspa Kamal Dahal led High Level Political Mechanism (HLPM) on Monday.
The list of the new cabinet members recommended by the HLPM include former bureaucrats Ram Kumar Shrestha, Rameshwor Khanal, Balanand Paudel, Uday Nepali, Shrikant Regmi, Dr. Sudha Sharma, Umakant Jha.

However portfolios to these new ministers is not yet decided. The portfolios will be decided by Chairman of the electoral government, Khilaraj Regmi himself.

Each of these ministers will be allocated two ministerial portfolios, on the basis of understanding reached between major political parties.

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala  today met with Minister for Home Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire and discussed the preparations on fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) poll.

Minister Ghimire urged NC President Koirala to support the government to create environment conducive and make necessary preparations for the poll.

The only agenda of the nation was to hold free, fearless, and fair elections, Koirala said and urged the government to pay attention on the same, NC spokesperson Dilendra Badu quoted President Koirala as saying. He also said NC would fully support the government in this campaign.

NC President Koirala stressed that government should take initiatives with all political parties to create environment for the CA polls, Badu added.

At an interaction program at the Reporters Club, they also said that the completion of the CA election depends on the degree of political parties’ support and commitments.

The former secretaries said that appointments in the Election Commission and necessary logistic support needed for the election should be managed immediately to meet the June 21 deadline.

Club’s Chairman Rishi Dhamala presided over the program.

During the program, former chief secretary Dr Bimal Koirala said the CA election by third week of June was possible if the major political parties extend their full supports.

Koirala said a peaceful environment for election should be created so that voters’ participation can be ensured in the election.

Koirala claimed that the former bureaucrats were capable of conducting the election under the leadership of the Chief Justice, as Nepal’s bureaucracy was always successful in crisis management.

“No stone should be left unturned to make the election a success for the cost of democracy and political stability,” Koirala said.

He also termed the anti-election demonstrations as normal ones.  

On the occasion, former secretary at the home ministry Khem Raj Regmi expressed satisfaction to the formation of the Interim Election Council under the leadership of sitting Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi and hoped that the Regmi-led Election Council would conduct the CA election in a free, fair and independent manner.

Likewise, another former secretary at the home ministry Umesh Mainali said formation of the Regmi-led government was the result of an unusual situation in the country.

Regmi argued that the CJ remains an independent and neutral until he remains in the top post of the judiciary and giving leadership to the sitting CJ was an appropriate decision of the political parties.

But, he said that CA election by June 21 was hard nut to crack as time would be quite insufficient for citizenship distribution, voters list update and printing of the voting papers. “In the first CA election, it took more than one and a half months only to print the voting paper. So, holding election by June 21 is a complex task,” he added.    

He even said the Nepal Army personnel too could be mobilized during the CA election as the army integration process was completed.

Also speaking at the same program, former secretary Umakanta Jha said people’s expectations would be fulfilled only through the election while another former secretary Trilochan Upreti asked all not to harbor doubt on the completion of the poll, thanks to commitment of major political parties.

Similarly, former member of the Public Service Commission and secretary at the ministry of children and social welfare Urmila Shrestha said the international practices of utilizing former government officials and administrators during the time of country’s difficulties was a relevant idea in Nepal too.

She opined that the former top officials’ leadership would give a wayout to the country’s deadlock from their long experiences.

KATHMANDU: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the formation of an election government under the leadership Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi tasked with overseeing what would be the second national polls since the end of the country’s civil war in 2006.

Issuing a statement, Ban’s spokesperson said, “The secretary-general welcomes the appointment of an Interim Electoral Council which has ended the protracted stalemate in Nepal.”

“He urges all actors to create a conducive environment for the next elections and to maintain the momentum to implement the outstanding commitments of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” the statement added.

Ban noted that UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will visit Nepal from March 19 to 21.

Earlier, the USA, China, the UK and India have also welcomed formation of the new government in Nepal by issuing separate statement  hoping that it would bring about a new political course in Nepal.

KATHMANDU: Recently appointed Chairman of Nepal’s Interim Election Council of Ministers Khila Raj Regmi today took charge of the office and pledged a timely fresh CA polls most probably on June 21 as agreed by the parties.

But, the head of the election government has said that it depends on the consensus of the political actors and administrative bodies as well.

However, nearly two dozen fringe parties including Nepal’s hardliner CPN-Maoist have taken to the street against Regmi’s appointment to the chief executive post. The Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist even has warned to boycotting the CA election if it were held under the Regmi’s government.

Talking briefly to media, Regmi said his main objective was to hold a free and fair CA election and maintaining law and order in the country.

“Political parties agreed to form an election government for the purpose of holding elections. As they trusted me for the same, I express gratitude to them,” he added.

Issuing a statement by the US embassy here today states that a complex and challenging process has ended and the US commends the parties for their willingness to make the compromises necessary to achieve this important political milestone.

The formation of the Interim Council of Ministers for Elections lays a foundation for vital further action, including completing and adopting Nepal’s new constitution and holding free, fair, and inclusive national elections in June that reflect the will of the Nepali people, it said.

KATHMANDU: Different fringe political parties today took to the streets after the President administered oath of office and secrecy to Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi as the head of the Interim Election Council.

Nepal’s hardliner political party, CPN-Maoist led the program including a bandh in the capital city from 12:00 noon this afternoon.

The fringe parties demonstrated in major parts of the city throwing the normal life out of gear this afternoon.

Most of the students and commuters suffered mostly due to the strike announced in haste by the CPN-Maoist and other fringe parties.

Addressing the protest program, CPN-Maoist Vice-chairman CP Gajurel said it was high time to protest the four-party and the President’s political syndicate in the country.

He also called one and all to take to the streets to wipe out the CJ-led government and major four political parties. The activists and police also clashed when the police tried to take the agitating crowd under control. The banda enforcers also vandalized some vehicles in the capital.