Kathmandu June 14

The statute regulation drafting task force of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) today handed over its report to party co-chairs KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, proposing to form a shadow government.

After Oli and Dahal give final shape to the report, the regulation will be discussed in the party secretariat and standing committee. The party’s central committee will finally endorse the regulation.

According to NCP (NCP) Chief Whip and member of the task force Dev Gurung, they have proposed having 31 departments to give feedback to the respective ministers and ministries. These departments will effectively function as a shadow government, said another member of the task force.

The task force formed by the party secretariat on May 21 is led by General Secretary Bishnu Poudel. Gurung, standing committee member Beduram Bhusal and CC member Khimlal Devkota are members of the task force. The task force was given 15 days to submit its report.

“The departments will give feedback to the concerned ministers. Members of the departments should be experts in the concerned fields,” said Devkota.

According to Devkota, members of the departments will have a rank equivalent to central committee members, while secretaries of these bodies will have a rank equivalent to politburo member. Chair of the departments will have a rank equivalent to a standing committee member.

While the former CPN-Maoist Centre did not have such a practice, former CPN-UML had formed such structures within the party that acted as a shadow government. The CPN-MC and the UML merged on May 17 to form a unified NCP (NCP).

Opposition parties used to form a shadow government, but the practice is new to a ruling party in Nepal. Members of the task force, however, expressed doubt if the proposal would be approved.

Chiefs and deputy chiefs of such departments will be nominated by the central committee and secretary will be chosen by the members of the concerned departments.