KATHMANDU, JANUARY 18

CPN-UML lawmaker Dev Raj Ghimire and Nepali Congress lawmaker Ishwari Neupane have filed their candidacy for the post of speaker of the House of Representatives.

UML leader Subas Chandra Nembang proposed the name of Ghimire and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chair Rajendra Lingden, Rastriya Swatantra Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane, and Chief Whip of CPN-MC Hitraj Pandey seconded his candidacy.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Bisha Prakash Sharma proposed the name of Neupane and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chief Whip Prakash Jwala supported Neupane's candidacy.

Ghimire won the parliamentary election from Jhapa Constituency No 2, whereas Neupane, who hails from Kailali district, was elected under the proportional representation system.

Neupane is the former vice-chair of the Nepal Women Association, a sister wing of the NC, and has been a member of the NC central working committee for almost 15 years.

If partners of the ruling alliance support Ghimire, it is certain that he will win the top parliamentary position.

In the 275-member HoR, the UML has 79 seats, CPN-MC 32, RPP 14, and RSP 20 seats.

Although Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal called an all-party meeting yesterday to explore the possibility of consensus on four key posts- president, vice president, speaker, and deputy speaker, parties had not forged consensus on these posts at least until today.

Dahal had told the all-party meeting that consensus politics would be good to conclude the peace process, resolve border issues, and other problems facing the country.

UML's Ghimire said his victory was almost certain as the ruling alliance partners were supporting his candidacy.

He said he would play a balanced and effective role if elected.

NC General Secretary Bishwa Prakash Sharma told mediapersons that his party was not seeking participation in the government, but decided to contest election for speaker as the party was the main opposition in the HoR. 'The NC believes that the House belongs to opposition parties,' he added.

The Nepali Congress parliamentary party has issued whip to NC lawmakers asking them to vote in favour of Neupane tomorrow.

It is not clear which candidate the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal, the Janamat Party, the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party-Nepal, and the Nagarik Unmukti Party will vote for tomorrow. The JSP-N and the Janamat Party are partners in the seven-party alliance and are miffed at the prime minister for not giving them good deal in the Cabinet. The NUP has made the release of Resham Chaudhary and other 'political prisoners' convicted in Kailali carnage their main agenda.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.