KATHMANDU, Jan 17: The government has finalized province chiefs and temporary capitals of all seven provinces on Wednesday.

A cabinet meeting held today took the decision.

The appointed Province Chiefs of all seven provinces are:

1. Province 1: Govinda Subba
2. Province 2: Ratneshwor Lal Kyastha
3. Province 3: Anuradha Koirala
4. Province 4: Baburam Kunwar
5. Province 5: Umakanta Jha
6. Province 6: Durga Keshar Khanal
7. Province 7: Mohan Raj Malla

Likewise, the finalized temporary province capitals are:

1. Province 1: Biratnagar
2. Province 2: Janakpur
3. Province 3: Hetauda
4. Province 4: Pokhara
5. Province 5: Rupandehi
6. Province 6: Surkhet
7. Province 7: Dhangadhi

KATHMANDU, Jan 17: The cabinet is scheduled to meet again 3:00 pm today to hold further discussions about the appointment of province chiefs and naming of temporary province capitals.

The Cabinet meeting took place this morning at 9:30 am at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Baluwatar. But due to lack of sufficient preparation, the cabinet meeting was rescheduled.

The cabinet meeting is likely to decide on province chiefs and temporary venues today. Deuba is said to be nominate two governors each as recommended by NC, UML and the Maoist Center while the one in Province 2 would be suggested by the two Madhes-based parties.

Initially the meeting was scheduled for yesterday, but Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had postponed the meeting for today morning to hold consultations with major political parties regarding the province chiefs and capitals.

The meeting has been rescheduled bearing in mind suggestions for further consultations on the matters, according to Minister for Information and Communications, Mohan Bahadur Basnet.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba held a meeting with the Nepali Congress leaders and Federal Socialist Forum Chair Upendra Yadav about the issues.

DHANGADHI, Jan 12: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government was exercising to forge political consensus for the nomination of province chiefs and naming temporary province capitals.

In a press meet organized by the Nepal Press Union, Kailai chapter in Dhangadhi Airport on Friday, PM Deuba said that he was exercising to forge consensus but there were slim chances for the same.

He further added that he will work out again to forge consensus after returning to the capital city but the government would move ahead if his efforts failed.

Prime Minister Deuba clarified that he was ready to quit the government at the earlierst but the responsibly of holding national assembly election was delaying his exit.

PM Deuba, who is also the President of Nepali Congress, said that NC will remain in opposition in the days ahead. RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan 12: The government has once again failed to name the temporary province capitals and governors. The cabinet meeting held on Friday was expected to take the decision.

The Election Commission has not been able to publish the final results of province assembly members due to the delay in appointment of province chiefs.

Also read: 16 persons killed in Chhintang incident 38 years ago declared martyrs

KATHMANDU, Jan 9: Nepali Congress leader and former Defense Minister Bal Krishna Khand has said that the government has already started making necessary preparation to fix temporary province capitals and appoint province chiefs.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Tuesday, leader Khand said, “Appointment of province chiefs was delayed because earlier CPN-UML stated that it would not take oath from the governors the incumbent government appointed. But later, the UML told us that it was government’s duty.”

“It is also essential to fix temporary province capitals to administer office of oath and secrecy to the newly appointed province chiefs. We have also started necessary preparations for the same,” he added.

“Permanent province capitals can be later fixed by the province assemblies.”

Minister Khand further said that they have suggested Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba not to recommend any province chiefs from Nepali Congress leaders or cadres to avoid tensions in the futures.

“We have advised PM Deuba to choose popular and clean personalities. Preparations for the same are being carries out,” he said.

“The cabinet will soon appoint governors,” assured Khand.

He also said that delay in government formation process was not due to the Election Commission.”It is necessary to elect upper house first to complete the federal parliament. UML should understand this.

KATHMANDU, Jan 8: President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Monday has suggested Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to fix the temporary capitals of all seven provinces as soon as possible.

Following the protests in various cities by the locals demanding their home town be declared province capitals, the government, in order to avoid the tension, had planned to skip the task and leave it for the province assemblies. Nepali Congress leaders has argued that the incumbent government cannot declare the province capitals as constitution only grants the right to carry out the task to the province assemblies.

Meanwhile, the largest party CPN-UML has accused the government of running away from challenges and has termed it as government’s incompetence.

Prime Minister Deuba had reached Sital Niwas to meet President Bhandari on Monday to brief about the preparations being made for National Assembly Election scheduled for February 7.

During the meet, Prez Bhandari suggested Deuba to fix the temporary province capitals in consultation with other political parties, said Bhesh Raj Adhikar, President’ personal secretary.

‘PROVINCE CHIEFS WILL BE APPOINTED ON MONDAY’

KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Law Minister Yagya Bahadur Thapa has backed the government’s plan to avoid the task of fixing temporary province capitals.

His statement come at a time when the government seems unlikely to fix the temporary province capitals owing to the tensions and protests that erupted in various cities in the country demanding their home towns be declared capitals.

“The present government has no right to fix temporary province capitals. Neither the next government will have the right to do so,” clarified Minister Thapa while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Sunday.

“Article 288 (2) of Nepal’s constitution clearly states that the capital of a Province under the constitution shall be decided by a two-thirds majority of the number of the members of the concerned Province Assembly,” he said adding, “Constitutionally the government is in no position to declare temporary province capitals.”

“Thus, this government will not fix capitals.”

Minister Thapa further said that the government basing on the clause (3) of the same article will specify the places the provinces shall conduct their business until the decision is made in accordance with clause 2.

Thapa also said that the cabinet meeting to be held on Monday will appoint governors of all seven provinces. “Since, all the political parties have realized the necessity of Province Chiefs, the government will appoint qualified chiefs on Monday.”

“The government is preparing for the same,” he added.

He further added that discussions are being carried out to swear-in the new Province Chiefs in Kathmandu.

APPOINTMENT OF PROVINCE CHIEFS IN NEXT CABINET MEETING

KATHMANDU, Jan 6: Minister for Commerce Min Bishwokarma has clarified that the incumbent government will not fix temporary province capitals.

Protests have flared across the country with locals demanding their home towns be declared the province capitals after the government prepared the outline of temporary capitals of all seven provinces.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday had called all-party meeting seeking consensus over finalizing province capitals, appointing governors and fixing National Assembly Election date. But, the largest party CPN-UML stayed aloof on these matters while urging Deuba to complete necessary procedures constitutionally and pave way for new government formation. Later on Friday, Deuba summoning an emergency cabinet meeting announced February 7 as the day for upper house election. The government is expected to take decision on remaining two issues.

But Minister Bishwokarma, at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Saturday, said, “Other political parties tried to escape from this duty stating that fixing temporary province capitals was none of their concern. Nepali Congress alone will not bear the potential tension that could arise after announcing province capitals.”

“People have started protest in various parts of the country demanding their home towns be declared province capitals. In such situation, it will not be appropriate for the government to fix capitals,” he argued.

“Constitution has provisioned that the Province Assembly will declare the province capitals. Thus, the present government will not fix province capitals,” he clarified.

Minister Bishwokarma however made it clear that the next cabinet meeting will appoint province chiefs.

He also made it clear that the new government will not be formed before mid-February.

“We want to hand over the government soon. But before the Election Commission issues the certificates of House of Representatives, how can we quit government,” he said.

“After all the constitutional procedures are completed we will transfer the power,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Jan 5: As the left alliance leaders have given green signals to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in announcing temporary province capitals, appointing province chiefs and fix date for National Assembly election, the government is preparing to take ‘unilateral’ decision in these three matters.

The government will likely complete the internal preparation regarding the matters and summon a cabinet meeting by Monday to decide the temporary province capitals, province chiefs and scheduling of the upper house election, said the private secretariat of Prime Minister on Friday.

Prime Minister Deuba had called a meeting of the major five parties on Thursday seeking consensus to fix the temporary province capitals and appoint province chiefs. Since, the left alliance leaders, who earlier had stated that the incumbent government cannot appoint governors and fix capitals as it is only caretaker government, softened their stance and did not present any concrete suggestion over the issues; the government is now expected to take decisions on its own.

Earlier, UML Chair KP Oli had stated that they would not take oath of office and secrecy from the province chiefs appointed by the Deuba-led caretaker government.

But, the leaders of the two parties of the left alliance, stating that they were not in the position to recommend the government to do any task as it didn’t listen to UML’s suggestions earlier, rather urged PM Deuba to pave way for the formation of a new government, completing all the constitutional and legal procedures including fixing province capitals, appoint province chiefs and schedule National Assembly Election date.

“Appointment of governors and fixing province capitals are none of our concerns now. We will give our decisions to these issues after the formation of province assembly,” UML vice-chair Bhim Rawal told Reporters’ Club Nepal.

“The government has to take all the decisions abiding by the constitutional framework without dillydallying and clear path for the formation of a new government,” he added.

KATHMANDU, Jan 2: The government has prepared the outline of the temporary capitals of all the seven provinces in the country.

The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) and the Ministry of Urban Development prepared this outline.

Spokesperson of the OPMCM, Hari Prasad Panthi said that the plan of the temporary capitals of provinces has been drawn on the basis of the existing physical infrastructure in these places.

According to him, Biratnagar has been proposed as the temporary capital of Province-1, Janakpur as the temporary capital of Province-2, Thimi of Bhaktapur as the temporary capital of Province-3, Pokhara as the temporary capital of Province-4, Dang as the temporary capital of Province-5, Surkhet as the temporary capital of Province-6 and Dhangadi as the temporary capital of Province-7.

The Ministry of Urban Development proposed the names of these places for temporary capitals of the respective provinces after they were found to be appropriate for the same on the basis of an on-site study.

A team led by the Ministry’s secretary Rajendra Poudel carried out on-site visit and study of all the places in each province and proposed these places as temporary capitals.

“We prepared the outline after the team communicated to us following its on-site study that these places would be appropriate for the temporary province capitals. Now, a meeting of the Council of Ministers will declare the proposed places as temporary capitals after necessary study,” spokesperson Panthi said.

The Provincial government of each province can change the province capital.

Constitutionally, a two-thirds majority of the Province Assembly can decide on the province capital.

Joint Secretary Panthi said that the temporary capitals have been fixed in view of the physical infrastructure, the availability of employees and communications, power supply and other resources. RSS