KATHMANDU, May 29: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the first-phase election of the local level, which the people can see and feel on a daily basis, has been conducted with an unsurpassed participation of the people in a free, fair and fear-free environment.

Addressing the special function organized at the Army Pavilion, Tundikhel on the occasion of the Republic Day today, PM Dahal described the local level election as the milestone in consolidating the federal, democratic republic.

The federal, democratic republic has been institutionalized in the country through the decades-long struggle of the Nepali people, he said, adding that the 15th of the month of Jeth is marked as the Republic Day every year to cherish the historic day of the declaration of the country as a republic.

Paying profound tributes to the martyrs who laid down their life for the establishment of the federal, democratic republic, the Prime Minister also offered high respect to the disappeared persons, those injured and handicapped combatants who took part in the struggle for establishment of the republic.

Also, the PM expressed gratitude to all those who participated in the people’s war, the historic people’s movement and the struggles waged by the Madhesis, indigenous nationalities and other communities.

While making it clear that the restructuring of the local level was an important dimension of the state restructuring in the context of institutionalization of the federal, democratic republic in the country, Prime Minister Dahal said it is a matter of happiness that the first phase election of the local level, which the people can see and feel on a day-to-day basis, was concluded in a free, fair and fear-free environment.

He extended heartfelt congratulations and thanks to all the voters who exercised their franchise actively participating in the historic local level election. The PM also congratulated the elected people’s representatives on behalf the government and his own, wishing them a successful term.
Stating that besides the election, the government has attached high priority to formulating various laws and revising the existing ones in order to institutionalize the federal, democratic republic by implementing the constitution, PM Dahal said that more than 40 laws have been legislated while 45 various bills were under the consideration of the Parliament in that connection.

“I am convinced that the achievements ensured by the constitution would be institutionalized with the building of the important foundation for constitution implementation after holding of the election to the local level, province and the federal legislature,” he elaborated.

Making it clear that the legal framework required for conducting the election of the province and the federal parliaments has been prepared with the holding of the first-phase local level election, PM Dahal said the government was working towards formulating the remaining some laws and tabling them in the Legislature-Parliament.

The laws related to the judicial administration, the federal judicial service commission and the judicial council have been implemented as per the constitution with the establishment of the High Court while bills necessary for the formation of the constitutional commissions as provided in the constitution have been prepared and presented in the Legislature-Parliament.

The Prime Minister expressed the belief that the new government would give a momentum in a more effective way to the task of prioritizing the news laws to be formulated as per the constitution and forwarding the work by preparing an action plan.

He stressed that it was the fundamental responsibility of the political leadership to bring about qualitative change in the life of the masses by institutionalizing the republic and utilizing the existing legal and administrative framework.

While emphasizing that the inclusive development of the people of all classes, sections, gender, region and ethnicity should be the main goal for the attainment of the sustainable development after securing the political rights, PM stated the government’s priority is on good-governance, development of modern settlements, promotion of moral, physical and technical education, and leadership and governance that is accountable to the people.

“Not only the door to political stability has been opened with the holding of the first-phase of the local level election, but the journey to economic prosperity and positive change in the lives of the people has also begun. I have the deep faith that with the conclusion of the upcoming second-phase local level election, the people’s representatives would assume their responsibility at the grass-root level, which would be a leap forward towards the political stability and development in Nepal,” the Prime Minister stated.

Prime Minister Dahal clarified that first round of local-level election was held, the bitter relation among political parties was changed into one of political consensus and collaboration, grant assistance provided to the earthquake victims for post earthquake reconstruction task was increased and construction of private houses for earthquake survivors has been accelerated till the date after formation of a government under his leadership.

He stated that the national economy of the country is on the path of progress, economic growth has increased by 7.5 per cent, inflation has been under control, development projects have progressed, power outage has been ended, smooth relation promoted with neighbouring countries as well as achievement have been made in political, diplomatic and managerial reforms, which have disseminated new message of hope in the county.

The Prime Minister said that nation’s prosperity and bringing qualitative change to people’s life by institutionalizing republicanism was our national agenda and pointed out that the Republic Day should make all to be more responsible to fulfill the duties on the basis of national consensus. RSS

MAHENDRA SUBEDI, KATHMANDU, May 28: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on May 24 announced his resignation after serving slightly more than nine months in office, thereby leaving a blueprint for political propriety and exhibiting a level of statesmanship in the country.

The Chairman of the Maoist Centre had reached at the helm of prime ministerial berth at a time when the country was having one of its toughest days. During those days, the blockade by India on Nepal and the ‘Gorkha Earthquake’ had left the country’s economy at its worst, price hike was skyrocketing, ethnic minorities, indigenous communities and Madhes-centric parties were continuously taking to the streets, development works were in a complete halt, foreign relations were guided almost in a cynical manner, anarchy was at its peak in the country and no mechanisms were setup to stabilize the recently promulgated constitution. The leaders in the government were almost like the rabble-rousers. The days were really appalling; almost everything was in a chaotic order.

The NC-Maoist Centre bond for the formation of the Prachanda-led government to pave the way by ending such pessimism seems to have worked remarkably. The Dahal-led government– now a caretaker one–achieved success in constitution’s implementation and to ensure its broader acceptability, conduct the first phase of the local level elections for the first time in the first time in the history in a free, fair and credible manner, maintain balance in our geo-strategic relations and expedite the development works.

Prime Minister Prachanda has won trust of common people to intellectuals and the foreigners also by peacefully conducting the polls. Former lawmaker and Nepali Congress leader Rishi Kesh Tiwari lauded the Dahal-led government terming for working by taking all disgruntled groups into confidence. The government did wonderful job by successfully holding the first phase of local level polls which he termed ‘a foundation stone for democracy’.

The first and foremost thing that Prime Minister Dahal did is he sounded loud and clear in holding the polls. For now, conducting the first phase of the local level polls is a step ahead to institutionalize the federal democratic republic and to ensure the second round of polls by bringing all the agitating parties on board.

Holding local level elections for institutionalizing the federalism is a welcome step, eco-political analyst Achyut Wagle said adding that diplomacy was also put in balance. “The gesture of the Dahal-led government remained positive.”

He, however, expressed reservation for not taking the aspect of separation of power into account adding that the Dahal-led government didn’t do as expected for enhancing institutional capacity of the state. “Neither Financial Commission was formed nor was it replicated in the government’s policies and programmes,” Wagle added.

Likewise, end of load-shedding and other policy-level interventions in the energy sector are historical. The progress in the under-construction projects, including the Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, Chameliya Hydropower Project and others, is encouraging. Now, load-shedding has become a history while assurance of a large chunk of share in hydropower projects for the government employees is a landmark move, perhaps first of its kind in the country. The Dahal-led NC-Maoist coalition government ended load-shedding. It has also heralded something anew in institutionalizing the federalism. “Performance of the government remained better,” Tiwari also a social entrepreneur observed.

The next is prevailing harmonious industrial relations between the industrialists and labourers and no general strike which contributed in industrial outputs as well as boosted up the confidence of the investors. The projected 7.5 per cent economic growth rate for this year and the lowest inflation in the past 12 years are the evidences for this. Also, the government move to resume closed some state-owned industries deserves applauds.

Similarly, rapid progress on the postal highway, Melamchi Drinking Water Project and the post-quake reconstruction bids are the major accomplishment that the nation has got during Dahal’s nine-month-long tenure. By giving responsibility for the construction of the multi-billion project to the Nepal Army, Dahal has also given answer to those questioning his nationality on the issue of Kathmandu-Nijgadh Fast-Track. Caretaker PM Dahal has laid the foundation stone of the fast-track amidst a function in Nijgadh of Bara this morning.

The next point that Dahal would be always remembered is his prompt action for the rescue, relief, rights and repatriation of Nepalis migrant workers working in the Gulf nations. The government also increased the premium of the temporary life insurance by Rs 2 million making it Rs 2.7 million. Serious intervention in the health sector and free treatment for many dreadful diseases remains a progressive step for developing a strong measure for social security.

Besides these some issues, Nepal’s participation in the China-proposed One Road One Belt (OBOR) development and cooperation initiative during the Prachanda-led government is a landmark move for Nepal’s prosperity, international exposure and connectivity. Given these all triumphs, Dahal has left a legacy of hope for a prosperous Nepal.

So, Dahal’s stay in the office since 3rd August, 2016 remained historic and he has made unparallel contributions as a leader for Nepal’s development, prosperity and pride. The former rebel leader too exhibited high political culture and proved himself a towering political personality tantamount to a charismatic statesman at present. RSS

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ casting vote at a polling station set up in Laxmi Secondary School, Lanka of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Chitwan at 7 am on Sunday, May 14, 2017.