KATHMANDU, JANUARY 9

The seven-party alliance today announced the 21-point common minimum programme to run the government. The working group led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel has framed the programme.

The 13- page document focuses on good governance, corruption control, implementation of the constitution, and amendment of old acts and laws.

Finance Minister Paudel announced policy priorities and minimum programme in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and former prime minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.

The CMP promises to end inflation, take strict action against black marketing, widen market monitoring, reduce office expenses, and not to buy government vehicles this year.

It states that a high-level commission will be formed to recommend judicial reforms so that citizens get easy access to justice.

It adds that regulatory agencies, such as the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, will be empowered with laws, manpower, resources, and tools to control corruption.

Coalition partners have also agreed to frame the Public Procurement Act, the Act on the Expeditious Implementation of Infrastructure Planning of National Importance, the Citizenship Act, the Nepal Police and Provincial Police Act, the Public Transport Service Act, the Local Administration Act, the Federal Civil Service Act, and the Umbrella University Act through the Parliament.

They have also agreed to give priority to agriculture, education, and employment issues.

The CMP states that steps will be taken to ensure voting rights to Nepalis living abroad. 'An integrated election law will be formulated with provisions to ensure voting rights for Nepalis living abroad and switch to electronic voting,' said Paudel.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the CMP would be the basis of unity among the alliance partners.

On December 29, a meeting of top leaders of the ruling coalition had decided to form a panel to draft the CMP. Led by Paudel, the panel had Barshaman Pun of the CPN-MC, Mukul Dhakal of the RSP, Dhawal Shumsher Rana of the RPP, and Rakam Chemjong from the JSP-N as members.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 10, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.