KATHMANDU, Feb 10: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) standing committee Devendra Poudel has clarified that the statement issued by the party secretariat meeting last week on the Venezuela political crisis and the United States intervention was the official statement of the party.

After the ruling party co-chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ denounced the US intervention on Venezuela political crisis as “an unacceptable intrusion in internal affairs and an attempt of imperialist coup,” a meeting of the party secretariat had concluded that “there should not be any foreign intervention on the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela”.

“Chair Dahal has not made any terrible mistake nor it was the wrong-word the statement. Dahal and US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry has held one-to-one meeting. Any existing diplomatic tensions have been cleared now,” said Poudel at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

Following the US government’s serious objection over the Dahal statement, Ambassador Berry has skipped the government’s briefing to diplomats. Ambassador Berry also met Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli in Baluwatar on Thursday about the differences between the two countries on the recent political developments.

“Ambassador Berry has even invited Dahal to US,” revealed Poudel.

“PM Oli and Dahal have held series of meetings to work out the differences emerged between them. The chair-duo talked about three hours yesterday. They have agreed to move ahead in consensus and resolving the differences,” he said.

On the occasion, Poudel also said that the two chairs are seriously working to complete the merger process. “The talks were focused not to get trapped in intraparty struggle,” he added.

He also claimed that PM Oli’s one year term has been successful. However he admitted that the Oli government was not ”as much enthusiastic as expected”.

“People have high hopes from the NCP led government. The government is facing criticism due because their hopes have not been properly met. But the government is doing homework to accelerate its work after the next budget,” he said.

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KATHMANDU, June 9: Nepal Communist Party (NCP) standing committee member, Devendra Poudel, has said that party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ will be elected as the directly elected executive president within five years.

“We were of the different view about the subject of directly elected executive presidential system while drafting constitution. This topic is still under discussion in the party,” said leader Poudel at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Saturday.

Chair Dahal, during a program some days ago, had said that NCP is intending to introduce the system of directly elected executive president by amending constitution—the remark heating the national politics at the time when NCP has just secured two-third command in the House with the support from Federal Socialist Forum Nepal.

“Prachanda is the most qualified and the strongest candidate for the position of executive president in the country. If the country chooses to adopt the system, Prachanda will become the executive president…within five years,” he said.

“Prachanda raised the subject a few days ago, and it has become a hot issue today,” he said.

He however clarified that the subject matter of introducing executive president has not gained any shape in the party discussions.

ISSUE of SPEAKER, DEPUTY SPEAKER WILL BE RESOLVED IN CONSENSUS

Stating that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led government will head the government for a straight five years, he added, “Oli and Prachanda, during the merger of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have established an understanding to head the government by turn. Oli will become prime minister for two and a half years before handing over the premiership to Prachanda. In this duration of five years, the country will go for a system of directly elected executive president, and Prachanda will become president.”

Leader Poudel also said that the issue of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be resolved as provisioned by the constitution.

Article 91 of the constitution of Nepal states that the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be from different parties.

The Speaker of the House, Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Deputy Speaker Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe both are from NCP. Earlier, before the unification of the two communist parties, Mahara represented Maoist Center and Tumbahanphe represented UML.

The Sepaker and Deputy Speaker were elected before the unification took place. Now, the circumstances are different. We are discussing this issue with the law experts. We will also hold discussion with the opposition parties. The issues will be resolved in consensus,” he said.

‘NOT PROTECTING CRIMINAL LAWMAKERS’

Leader Poudel defended the provision of not suspending a lawmaker from the post upon being arrested for a criminal offence. The Parliament on Friday passed the House of Representatives Regulations 2075- that provisions barring a lawmaker from parliamentary privilege, perks and facilities instead of suspending his from his position upon being arrested for a criminal offence or any other offence accountable to incur a jail term of three years or more.

“If a lawmaker gets suspended when she faces a criminal charge, it can bring negative culture in the parliamentary system. Lawmakers may be made victims of plots in the coming days,” he said.

“This provision has not been brought to protect the criminal lawmakers,” he said.

BAGLUNG, Dec 9: Left alliance candidates have come out victorious in all constituencies in Baglung in the first phase of the House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections held on November 26.

The district has two seats in the House of Representatives and four in the State Assemblies.

CPN-UML candidate Surya Prasad Pathak representing the left alliance defeated Nepali Congress’s Champa Devi Khadka. He secured 33,645 votes, while Khadka finished with 20,616 in her name.

Likewise, in Baglung -2, CPN (Maoist Center) candidate Devendra Poudel beat NC candidate Neeraj Pun to win the HoR seat with 28,827 votes. Pun got 19,905 votes.

Similarly, CPN-UML candidate Indralal Sapkota came out victorious in the Baglung-1 State Assembly ‘A’ elections by securing 17,915 votes against 11, 989 votes obtained by his nearest rival NC’s Deependra Bahadur Thapa.

Likewise, Rastriya Janamorcha’s Krishna Thapa representing the left alliance won a Baglung-1 State Assembly seat with 15,636 votes. His nearest competitor NC’s Prakash Sharma Poudel secured 9,094 votes.

Similarly, CPN (MC) candidate Chandra Budha won the Baglung-2 State Assembly ‘A’ seat with 17,415 votes against 11,546 votes garnered by his nearest NC’s Manjesh Bam Malla.

Rastriya Janamorcha’s Tek Bahadur Gharti emerged victorious in the Baglung-2 State Assembly elections. He obtained 11,884 votes, while his nearest rival NC’s Jeet Sherchan 8,624 votes. RSS