KATHMANDU, Oct 10: Resigning from the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives after a rape allegation, Krishna Bahadur Mahara is highly unlikely to be back. Information through a bulletin board has been put in the parliament, and the position now lies vacant. Members of the House of Representatives have now begun active parleys in order to get to the position.

According to the constitution of Nepal, you cannot have a deputy speaker and the speaker from the same political party. Since the united Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has the post of the Deputy Speaker represented by Ms. Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe, they either will have to ask her to resign or if they retain her the seat of the Speaker will go to someone outside the NCP.

NCP will no doubt formalize a plan to retain the position for the Speaker but that time will decide, and since the current position was filled in by the Prachanda faction of the NCP, there is a high chance of people close to his group stake claim for the coveted post.

Accordingly, various previous leaders of the NCP are also caving in, former Speaker of the Constituent Assembly Subhas Nembang, and Onsari Gharti Magar are seen to be the frontrunners. Similarly, leaders of the Prachanda faction Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Janardhan Sharma are also seen as candidates for the post. The Speaker of the house plays an important role in maintaining the affairs of the house while in session and is responsible for its functioning and decorum, hence this position is highly sought after.

DHANUSA, Nov 8: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has stressed on the need for attention and cooperation from every quarter to create atmosphere conducive for holding the upcoming elections in a free and fearless manner.

The government is committed to managing security and necessary equipments for the polls, he said, while addressing a seminar on security for Province 2 in the polls organized in Janakpurdham, Dhanusha by the Home Ministry on Wednesday.

“Election is the base for democracy,” he said stressing on strengthened security mechanism to ensure the free elections.

Similarly, election commissioner Sudhir Kumar Shah stated that an integrated security plan has been devised to hold the polls in a fearless environment, while referring to untoward incidents occurred in the past elections as he said because of an ‘unhealthy competition’ among political parties.

Home secretary Mohan Krishna Sapkota and joint secretary Narayan Prasad Sharma viewed the elections as a milestone in implementing the federalism. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 18: Minister for Commerce Min Bahadur Bishwakarma has said the government would, at any cost, conduct the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies on time.

Speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Wednesday, he asserted that the elections would be held on the announced dates.

He further said that the ruling coalition partner CPN (Maoist Centre) of took advantage in the local-level elections due to its collaboration with the Nepali Congress and accused that the same party turned to the CPN-UML for an electoral alliance for the upcoming polls as it realized that it would get more advantage from the leftist alliance.

Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Urban Development, Dilnath Giri, claimed that his party (Rastriya Prajatantra Party) decided to join the Nepali Congress-led government just to make the elections sure.

He took time to accuse the opposition parties of spreading rumor that the timely elections were not likely.

JANAKPURDHAM, Aug 4: Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president, Sher Bahadur Deuba has expressed his confidence that the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) will participate in the election.

Talking to journalists in Janakpurdham on Friday, he said that the environment conducive for the RJPN to take part in the election is being created as the Madhes issues have been gradually addressed.

PM Deuba also said that the Nepali Congress was all set to have the constitution amendment bill passed from the parliament.
He however said the main opposition party CPN-UML and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) were obstructing the process.

The Prime Minister urged the Janakpur denizens to extend cooperation in the construction of road and drainage that is being undertaken in their city under the Asian Development Bank project.

The Nepali Congress president also stated that his party was willing to enter into electoral alliances with the CPN (Maoist Centre) and other interested parties in the local election. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 23: The meeting of the central working committee of the ruling Nepali Congress party (NC) called on Saturday to reflect on causes and weakness behind the party’s poor showing in the recently concluded local polls continued today.

Party top leaders and central members are reviewing reasons behind the party’s dismal performance in the polls and discussing ways to come up with a strategy to come stronger and fare well in next elections especially in the third phase of the local polls slated in Province 2 for September 18, said a meeting attendant.

The meeting also suggested ways for the party to correct its past mistakes and prepare itself enough before going to the third round of the local polls like choosing right candidates, distributing tickets on time and making all party publicity mechanism effective among others, said the party office.

Issues were also discussed on making organizational preparations for the polls, preparing action plan and party’s role in national politics.

Other issues discussed are appointment of Inspector General of Police, an article of impeachment filed against then Chief Justice and appointment of ambassadors, said another attendant NC leader Pradip Poudel.

NC senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel evaluated the party’s whole situation and causes behind party’s dismal performance in the elections while stressing the need for the party leadership to come together to make it stronger in the days to come.

Chaired by party President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, at least 20 NC’s central members aired their views on various subjects at the meeting that will conclude later today. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 21: Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) leaders have expressed concern over the Madhes movement being pushed into the direction of crisis.

They have admitted that mutual rivalry among the Madhesi parties and leaders, narrow mindedness, selfishness, the culture of legs pulling; egoism and inconsistency had weakened the Madhes movement.

At an interaction program on ‘Madhes issue and our responsibility’, jointly organized by Madhesi Rastriya Mukti Morcha and Joint National Madhesi Agitation Committee on Saturday, they said the agenda of Madhes could fall on the verge of disappearance if there was no unity and cooperation among the Madhes-centric parties.

RJPN presidency member Mahendra Raya said the Madhes movement had got entangled amidst the crisis and difficulty.

Stating that the party was ready to participate in the local level election, provided that its demands including the constitution amendment were addressed, he accused the Madhesi leaders of following the agenda of other political parties.

Party leader Hridyesh Tripathi said the Madhes movement has showcased the strength of Madhes as a political power. But the party would not take part in the upcoming election in the current political status quo.

Leader Brijesh Chandra Lal stressed that the state should realize the equity and rights were the agenda of Madhes.

CPN (Maoist Centre) leader Matrika Yadav, accusing the Madhesi leaders of not becoming honest to the Madhes agenda and sentiments and preferring to stay in the capital, said only the constitution amendment was not enough to address the Madhes issues.

Nepal Federal Socialist Party Chair Mohammed Rijwan Ansari said equity and unity was the main demand of the Madhes and Madhesi people were irate at their leaders and the government due to their selfishness nature.

Political analysts CK Lal and Bijay Kant Karna underlined the need of reviewing the performance of Madhes leaders.

Leaders from the Madhes get lost in the capital and they have been using politics as means of business instead of serving the people, they said adding that Nepal would not remain as a peaceful nation until the Madhes issues were addressed.

GAUSHALA, July 21: The chief election commissioner (CEC) Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has said that the local poll in Province No 2 will take place in the slated time (18 September).

In a press meet organized on Friday, CEC Yadav urged all not to suspect over the timely election in Province No 2. He further shared that the commission was preparing all requirements for the election therefore there was no valid logic against it.

On the query of media persons regarding the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal’s participation in the election, Yadav expressed confidence that the party will take part in the election.

CEC Yadav also inspected the Mahottari District Election Commission office in Jaleshwar today. RSS

KRISHNA SAPKOTA, KATHMANDU, July 10: Slowly and gradually we are finally heading towards bringing an end to the protracted transition in the country. Broadly the political campaign for peace and constitution has remained successful to sail the country to a different horizon. The country has come a long way to bail itself out from the abyss of crisis; yet again the road ahead is still not smooth to travel. 

As an initial but important part of the constitution implementation process, two phases of civic polls were held in Provinces 1,3,4,5,6 and 7 and preparations are underway for conducting local elections in the eight districts of Province-2 in coming September.

The first of the three important elections to be held in the country with the implementation of the new constitution has very indeed helped craft the vision for tomorrow. First, the participatory event has woken up the people of every nooks and corners to use their political rights and form a ‘government-at-doorsteps’. Secondly, it is likely to reduce the burden of the central government allowing it to concentrate its efforts on other important works. Thirdly, the formation of local government will be instrumental to mobilize local resources for development, possibly decreasing Nepal’s dependency on conditional foreign aid.

Over 70 per cent voters’ turnout in the two phases of the local elections have manifested the people’s yearning for participation in political process, and to give an outlet to the country from the longstanding transition. The people from Province-2 will presumably not remain aloof from the crucial political activity to use their franchise, and assert their civil and political rights to demand development and better living conditions. The recent move of the agitating Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) to register with the Election Commission (EC) also indicates something of a positive development to that end.

However, the holding of local level elections will not complete the course. It is just an igniting start. It is constitutionally mandatory for the government to hold three tiers of elections – local, provincial and federal – within the stated date of 21 January 2018. The apex court had also mounted pressure on the government to meet the statutory deadline in holding all three tiers of elections. The conduction of two phases of local elections might have boosted the confidence of the government and Election Commission to hold the remaining third phase of local election, and of two other tiers. Taking into consideration the pressure of timeline, the government has to spring into action to make it happen in any pretext.

No doubt the first-of-its-kind Constitution promulgated by an absolute majority of the historic Constituent Assembly (CA) members is a document to open up avenues for stability and prosperity in the country. Nevertheless, the daunting challenge lies on making this a well-accepted national charter and thereby strengthening the national unity. So, amendment to the Constitution is obvious process to bring the disgruntled sides onboard so as to ensure that no one is left behind. This is the beauty of democracy to listen to the voices of people and enable environment for all to grow. Otherwise, it may aggravate cleavages and conflict and put the country into another vicious imbroglio.

Keeping in mind the dire consequences, the government, political parties and leaders should not be myopic to explore solutions to bring prosperity to the country. Henceforth, there can be no excuse for the responsible political actors and the government to dillydally and put brakes on the speed of much-needed development and prosperity. It was too much in the past and there is no space for inaction.

Meanwhile, the newly established local level government is expected to bring cheers to the faces of people. The expectation is natural as it is equipped with executive, legislative and judiciary authorities. With this, a local government can deliver and realize its functions. So a silver lining is already visible. The formative time is crucial to develop mechanisms to make people the partners of prosperity in the new setup by allowing space for their participation in the decision-making process. An informed citizenry can only take the stake of the local development process so the local governments should not be hesitant to ensure easy access to information held by them and pave the long march for prosperity.

The Constitution has guaranteed every citizen the fundamental right to seek and receive information of any matters of public importance by public agencies albeit some exceptions. The National Information Commission (NIC) has also issued circular to all 744 local levels to adhere to the constitutional right of the public to access information. Hence, the people-elected local representatives should be the first to be imparted training on how to effectively handle this affair. This will change the wide landscape of governance and facilitate the people’s representatives in fulfilling the commitments they made during the elections. It is hence a right point of departure for the representatives to realize their promises and needs of the people. Hence, information affairs should be made the core matter of governance at the local level.

We had endured stagnations in the past. But, we have the right time now to make a good start. We will never rise if we repeat mistakes for the same reasons. Rather we will always be in a position to accurse our destiny and survive a life marked with poverty and crisis. Hence, let’s cash in on the opportunity that lies at our threshold and make a definite journey towards peace and prosperity.

KATHMANDU, June 27: Some 600,000 passengers have left here for their home districts to use their voting rights in second round of local-level election scheduled for June 28.

According to the National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs, the number of passengers leaving for province no 1, 5 and 7 from Kathmandu Valley has increased.

The voters of province no 1, 5 and 7, living in Kathmandu Valley for different purposes, have started leaving here from mid-June.

Federation General Secretary, Saroj Sitaula, said that arrangement of vehicles has been made in view of increasing flow of passengers willing to go their home districts to cast vote.

Crowd of passengers can be seen at Kalanki, Balkhu and Koteshwor to catch the vehicles to reach their destinations. Similarly, number of passenger is also high at Tribhuvan International Airport today as compared to other days. RSS

KATHMANDU, JUNE 27: The Election Commission (EC) has made an arrangement for the voters to cast vote showing other government documents beside the voter Identity card in the second round of local level election scheduled for June 28.

However, the name of the voters has to be included in the final name list of voters published for the second-round of the election.

EC Spokesperson Surya Prasad Sharma said that the EC took this decision to ensure the rights of voters if the voters could not get their voters identity cards due to some reasons as well as the ID card was lost or destroyed.

According to the EC, the arrangement has been made where a voter can vote on the basis of citizenship certificate, voter ID card issued by the EC in 2070 BS, passport, license, land ownership certificate and other ID card along with photograph issued by the government bodies.

The EC has also directed to make arrangement to allow voter cast vote on the basis of details of his/her citizenship certificate as per the Local Level Election Guidelines if there is minor mistake in voters’ name list or voter ID card.

A meeting held today under the chairmanship of Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav took the decision in this regard to ensure rights of the voters enlisted in the list of voters’ name list along photograph.

The EC has also made arrangement of toll free number 16600144222 to acquire some necessary information related to election.

The election of 334 local-level at 35 districts of province no 1, 5 and 7 is taking place on Wednesday. RSS