KATHMANDU, Feb 27: The ruling CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) which are under the unity process have formed a subcommittee to draft interim statute and unity of their sister organizations.

The meeting of the taskforce on organizational unity held today at UML’s party office, Dhumbarahi, decided to entrust the subcommittee comprising Gokarna Bista and Giriraj Mani Pokhrel to draft a statute and organizational structure of the sister organizations of both parties, said UML Secretary Bista.

The subcommittee has a week’s time for the submission of the report.

Similarly, a committee has been formed under the coordination of senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal to prepare an ideological report. RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 14: The unity coordination committee of the CPN (Maoist Center) and the CPN-UML has agreed to claim for the post of Prime Minister before the President.

The coordination meeting held to reach the unity process to conclusion Wednesday decided to come up with concrete framework of unity process tomorrow.

Coordination committee member and Maoist Centre leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha shared that the Election Commission was to submit the result of the House of Representatives election before the President. So, there was no doubt that process would be forwarded to form the government first, he added.

“It was not because of differences. There was a positive and serious discussion. Next meeting is set for Thursday to continue today’s discussion in order to finalize all the issues”, said leader Shrestha.

Coordination Committee member and UML senior leader Jhalanath Khanal said that they could not make public the conclusions as the discussions are underway. He declined to make any other remarks.

The two parties are on intense discussion to share the work division and adjust ideological and political principles.

TASKFORCE ON ORGANIZATION AND IDEOLOGY TO BE FORMED
It was principally agreed to form two separate taskforces on party organization and ideology in the run up to the merger of two parties, shared coordination committee member and UML Vice-chair Bamdev Gautam.

The names of the taskforce members will be fixed on Thursday, he added. “95 per cent of the works on party merger has completed. There are no more disputes on party unity”. RSS

BUTWAL, Feb 11: UML and Maoist Center has also claimed the post of chief minister in Province 5.  UML Parliamentary Party leader of the Province Assembly, Shankar Pokhrel, has been proposed for the post based on the consensus between the two left parties.

A letter requesting appointment process as per Article 168 (2) of the Constitution was submitted to the State Chief Uma Kanta Jha. Leader Pokhrel and Maoist Center Parliamentary Party Leader Kul Prasad KC jointly submitted the letter with the signatures of majority number of Provincial Assembly members.

Out of 87 Province Assembly members, UML has 41 and Maoist Center has 20 members. Pokharel was picked as the candidate of the Chief Minister as per the agreement of the left alliance.

Receiving the letter, State Chief Jha said that he was aware about the formation of the government on deadline given by the constitution though it has been delayed as federalism was the first practice in the country.

KATHMANDU, Dec 27: The CPN-UML has started initiatives to form a new government under its leadership bringing the CPN (Maoist Center), Madhes-based parties and Naya Shakti into confidence.

The CPN-UML has been doing homework to bring other political parties into confidence for formation of a new government at a time when top leaders of UML and Maoist Center have been holding informal discussion regarding formation of a new government and party unity.

The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal and Federal Socialist Forum, if they wish to, are to be taken ahead together based on consultations with the leaders of left alliance as Nepali Congress is likely to remain in opposition, UML Standing Committee member Shankar Pokhrel said adding it would help in country’s prosperity and government’s effectiveness.

He said that the CPN-UML held discussion with Madhes-based parties to give a message that the party was ready to move ahead collaborating with them.

The first-phase discussion was held between UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and Forum in this regard. Even Naya Shakti Coordinator Dr Baburam Bhattarai had reached Balkot a few days ago. It has been understood that Oli will have Bhattarai’s support while forming the government.

Leader Pokhrel further said, “A formal process for formation of a new government will begin after Election Commission provides the final result. We will move ahead for party unification and formation of new government as per the people’s mandate.”

He said that process for the unification between the two parties has begun since election alliance and the cadres are more excited about it, claiming that there were no any serious problems regarding party unity and formation of government.

The both parties had on October 3 announced for party unification and election alliance.

MUGU, Dec 8: CPN-UML’s left alliance candidate Gopal Bahadur Bam has been elected as the House of Representative member from Mugu district. Bam secured 13,034 votes to defeat Nepali Congress candidate Hasta Bahadur Malla, who only got 9,861 votes.

MYAGDI, Dec 8: CPN-UML’s Nar Devi Pun Magar has won the province assembly election in Myagdi ‘B’. Pun garnered 10872 votes to defeat Nepali Congress candidate Aam Lal Phagami Pun who only got 7990 votes.

KATHMANDU, Nov 28: The Election Commission has asked the CPN-UML to furnish clarification within 24 hours for its advertisement in newspapers, an act which the EC said violates the election code of conduct.

EC’s deputy spokesperson Mukunda Sharma confirmed the EC’s move to seek the clarification.

It has been reported that UML’s advertisements with a photo of party chairman KP Sharma Oli reading ‘vote for Sun’ appeared in various national dailies. “The UML’s advertisement violating the election code of conduct has drawn the attention of the EC. It has been requested that a clarification relating to the act must be submitted within 24 hours,” the EC statement said.

Likewise, the EC has asked five national dailies including ‘Kantipur’, ‘Annapurna Post’, ‘Naya Patrika’ and ‘Rajdhani’ to submit clarifications within 24 hours on the same issue.

The dailies have been charged with publishing the UML’s advertisements in violation of the election code of conduct.

COLLECTION OF BALLOT BOXES IN FINAL PHASE
Meanwhile, almost all the ballot boxes of the voting that took place in 31 districts on November 26 under the first phase of elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies have been collected to the respective district headquarters, the EC said. Only the ballot boxes of nine polling centres of Dolpa district are yet to arrive. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 5: Two separate taskforces constituted following the agreement among the CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center) and the Naya Shakti Nepal to forge an electoral alliance for the upcoming House of Representatives and State Assemblies elections have been given the deadline to complete the assigned task.

As per the agreement, the UML and Maoist Centre are to share seats in the 60-40 ratio in the upcoming elections towards the direct system.

The taskforce meant for determining the electoral constituency has been directed to prepare a report within the next three days.

The three political parties on Tuesday announced their alliance what they termed the ‘leftist alliance’ for the upcoming elections slated for November 26 and December 7, promising to go with the process for party unification in the days ahead.

Following the same understanding, two separate taskforces were formed Wednesday to determine electoral constituencies and prepare the joint election manifesto.

In the very first joint meeting of both taskforces took place at the Singha Durbar-based CPN (UML) Parliamentary party office today, UML chair KP Sharma Oli and CPN (MC) chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and other top leaders of both political parties gave deadline to both bodies to complete the task.

The second taskforce has been instructed to prepare draft of the election manifesto within the next seven days.

Talking to media following the meeting, member in the second taskforce Nayashakti Nepal’s leader Ganga Shrestha said they were directed to incorporate the issues of constitution, democracy and social justice in the election manifesto.

Bishnu Poudel and Surendra Pandey from the CPN (UML); Ram Bahadur Thapa, Barshaman Pun and Matrika Yadav from the CPN (MC); and Ganga Shrestha from the Nayashakti are in the constituency determination taskforce.

A taskforce assigned to prepare the draft of joint election manifesto comprises Bamdev Gautam, Bhim Rawal and Pradeep Gyawali from the UML; Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Dev Gurung and Bishwa Bhakta Dulal from the Maoist Centre and Dambar Khatiwada and Dr Laxmi Devkota from the Naya Shakti. RSS

KATHMANDU, July 6: Bhim Rawal, vice-chairman of the main opposition party CPN-UML, has argued that the government should withdraw the amendment bill currently stalled at the parliament and bring forward a new one incorporating suggestions of the UML. He added his party will have full support to the new amendment proposal if it is meets the people’s and nation’s interest.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Thursday, Rawal also questioned the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and former Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ ‘s silence over the amendment bill currently stalled at the parliament.

“For what reason was the proposal forwarded?”, he wondered.

He further said that the issue of sorting out the delineation disputes by forming a federal commission was of sort that would cut out the rights of province. He added, the government brought proposal also bars the chiefs, deputy chiefs of the municipalities and rural municipalities from being part of an electoral college that will elect the in National Assembly. “Our party is against as such suggestions,” he said.

“The Nepali Congress (NC) and Maoist Center (MC) alliance brought the amendment proposal going against the spirit of constitution and law. It is against the nation and people, and will only disintegrate Madhes and Hills. We are never supporting the proposition”, he added.

The opposition has registered revision on the amendment bill to Article 274 (4a) which authorizes federal parliament to endorse the changes in the revision of boundaries in consultation with the provincial assemblies instead of mandatory agreement from the provinces. The opposition parties are for continuing the existing constitutional provision which makes it mandatory to have approval from the provincial assemblies for the revision in the boundaries.

Similarly, the opposition has registered revision on the amendment to Article 86 (2) (a), barring chief and deputy chiefs of municipalities and rural municipalities (village councils) from being part of an electoral college that will elect the national assembly. It is for continuity in the existing provision in the constitution which authorizes them to be the part of Electoral College.

In the amendment proposal by the ruling alliance, an additional clause has been incorporated in Article 7 of the constitution to enlist all the languages recommended by the Language Commission in the annex of the constitution. This would allow the provinces to choose the national languages from the recommendations. “The proposal will anchor the effort to recognize Hindi language as governmental language. It can replace the local languages like Bhojpuri, Maithali, Awadhi, said Rawal, “which is unacceptable.”

Among the 50 proposals, 34 have been filed by the main opposition CPN-UML alone, seeking revision in various provisions in the amendment bill. The opposition parties, including the UML, CPN-ML, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Rastriya Janamorcha, have sought revision in all 11-points in the amendment.

Leader Rawal further said that UML is open to hold discussions over the issues of constitution amendment bill after the completion of round three of election scheduled for September 18.

“If the determination of local levels is not as per the distribution of population, we will discuss about it. Not only in province 2 but in other districts as well.”

Stating that people’s participation in the first and second round of local election was enthusiastic, he expected the same in the round three of election going to be held in Province 2.

He also claimed that UML will emerge as the largest party in province 2 as well.

Stating that people of Terai-Madhes want election, he urged Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) not to deprive Madhesi people of their voting rights. He added, UML is open to hold discussion with RJPN.

He also welcomed the Federal Socialist Forum Chairman Upendra Yadav’s decision to participate in the elections.

POKHARA, June 10: CPN (UML) candidates have been elected to the Pokhara – Lekhnath Metropolitan City’s Municipal Executive Council.

As per the vote count which concluded last night, five women members from UML – Radhikar Kumari Shahi Yogi, Shantu Devi Subedi, Manbhuja BK, Pushpa Pahari Ghale and Yasodha Bhattarai – were elected, according to Chief Election Official, Nagendra Lal Karna.

In the Dalit and marginalized communities’ category, UML’s Chature Kami, Om Prasad Gauchan and Buddha Raj Bhujel have been elected. RSS