KATHMANDU, Oct 9: Nepali Congress leader Gopalman Shrestha said that the Nepali Congress (NC) is ready to roll out red carpet for Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar if he wants exit Nepal Loktantrik Fourm and join NC.

Talking to Rishi Dhamala at a radio program Nepali Bahas on Monday, Shrestha said, “If Gachhadar wants to return to his home party, we will heartily welcome him. Red carpet awaits Gachhadar.”

Gachhadar close sources have claimed that he was preparing to join NC soon after the conclusion of local level elections. But, after leader Jitendra Dev took stand that Gachhadar should not leave the party at the current circumstances, he (Gachhadar) was compelled to put off his decision.

Gachchhadar had won elections in 1991, 1994 and 1999 representing the NC. In 2008, NC had formally expelled Gachhadar from the party, by that time he had already joined Madhesi People’s Rights Forum led by Upendra Yadav.

He also won the 2008 Constitution Assembly Election. But in 2009, he split from Upendra Yadav’s party and formed his own party Nepal Loktantrik Forum (Democratic). Gachhadar won the 2013 Constitution Assembly Election from Sunsari Constituency 3 representing Loktantrik.

Leader Shrestha, also the deputy prime minister and education minister of Nepal, also shared that various smaller parties are keen to support the broader democratic alliance.

NC is giving its all efforts to woo various parties to join hands in democratic alliance to form a pre-poll alliance so as to counterbalance the new-formed left alliance comprising the main opposition CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and Naya Shakti Nepal.

But NC’s attempt seems to be going nowhere since the fringe parties are bargaining for higher stake on negotiation table demanding more than 60 constituencies out of 165 under the first-past-the-post category.

“The seven-member panel will soon decide on seat distribution according to party’s mandate,” added Shrestha.

National pride projects to be highly prioritized  

KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Minster for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Narayan Dev has said that Nepal Loktantrik Forum shall form poll alliance with the CPN (Maoist Center) in upcoming third round of local level election scheduled in Province 2.

“We are prioritizing Madhes-centric parties for the election alliance. If not, then we will forge alliance with the Maoist Center to contest in the local polls,” said Minster Dev while speaking during an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Wednesday.

“We are hoping to win more seats in province 2,” he added.

“But we will not for alliance with any parties in those local levels where we are confident of winning,” he added.

The Minister further said that the government is serious to address the genuine demands of the agitating Rastirya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN). He added that the under-discussion constitution amendment proposal will be put to vote immediately if the RJPN promises to accept the result whatsoever.

He furthered that the next cabinet meeting is preparing to address the other demands of RJPN. RJPN has demanded that the government drop criminal charges filed against RJPN cadres, compensate those injured in the protest and give martyrdom status to those killed during the Madhes movement, including constitution amendment.

On the occasion, Minster Yadav also expressed his commitment that he would highly prioritize the five national pride projects under the ministry.

The five projects that fall under the ministry are construction of second international airport at Nijgadh in Bara, Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa, regional international Airport in Pokhara and implementation and acceleration of plans and programs of the Pashupati Area Development Trust and Lumbini Development Trust.

He said that the Ministry has already directed the authorities concerned to expedite the construction of Pokhara airport which is expected to complete in July 2020. “The contractors have already reached the construction site. It will complete in time,” he added.

Likewise, Minister Dev also said that he had already started initiation for the construction of second international airport at Nijgadh which has been stalled for the past 22 years.  The airport was due to be completed by December 2018, but no construction works have been carried out so far.

“We have already worked out a six-point decision concerning the construction of the airport. The cabinet meeting is preparing to endorse it on Thursday,” added the minister.

Similarly he also said Bhairahawa airport will also be completed in time.

Minister Dev further said that he has directed the authorities to speed up the reconstruction of the national heritage sites damaged by the 2015 earthquake.