Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, December 31:

Controversy over the appointment of governor has further deepened as the Prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and deputy prime minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari could not come with a consensus name. Adhikari failed to propose the right candidate at yesterday’s cabinet meeting.

Sources at the ministry of finance have confirmed that the name for the governor was yet to be finalised, thanks to increased controversy over who will be ‘at the helm’ to continue financial sector reforms. Today’s meeting between Deuba and Adhikari — said a high level source — have reached an understanding to consult with the incumbent governor Dr Tilak Rawal and ask him whether he can continue in that ‘coveted post’ as the current financial market is very ‘tricky’. However, Dr Rawal was not available for his comments.

Meanwhile, sources said, even the CPN (UML) ministers have supported Deuba’s idea. According to a source at the central bank, Dr Khatiwada comes in the 11th position in the seniority. There are more senior staff like Ram Babu Pant, Bijay Nath Bhattarai, Lekh Nath Bhusal, Madhav Prasad Bhatta, Krishna Bahadur Manandhar, Krishna Kumar Pradhan, Keshav Prasad Acharya, Tula Raj Basyal, Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, Rajan Singh Bhandari, Surendra Man Pradhan and Bri Bikram Rayamajhi. The name of Dr Bimal Prasad Koirala is also put forward for the post as he is the ‘favoured’ man of donors. The issue became more ‘controversial’ when the ministers in the Deuba camp also protested against the selection of candidates.

The World Bank and IMF have exercised a lot to install Dr Koirala in the post, seeing that the financial sector reform is a ‘million dollar question’. However, sources disclosed that Deuba might face more difficulties in his political career, if he appoints Dr Koirala. The time has come to think very seriously for the coalition government — which may spark further hullabaloo in country’s political circle — in choosing a ‘right and spirited’ governor.