Prez tells PM to name provisional provincial headquarters

KATHMANDU: President Bidhya Devi Bhandari today told Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to name provisional headquarters of the provinces as per the spirit of the constitution and relevant laws.

The head of state offered this suggestion to PM Deuba when he went to meet her, said the President’s Personal Secretary Bhesh Raj Adhikari.

According to Adhikari, the president told the prime minister that it would be better to appoint governors only after naming provisional headquarters of provinces or else there would be no place for governors to set up their offices.

“Where will the governors sit

if they are appointed first and provisional headquarters of provinces are named later?” the president asked the PM, according to Adhikari.

The president also told the prime minister to talk to all stakeholders, including the political parties, to forge consensus on appointment of governors.

Prime Minister’s Senior Media Expert Govinda Pariyar said the PM and the president usually meet after four to five days and today’s was a routine meeting. “The prime minister discussed some contemporary issues with the president,” he added.

Some of the ministers have said that this government will not name provisional headquarters, as people in several cities have taken to the streets demanding that their cities be named headquarters of provinces. They argue that if the government named provisional headquarters of the provinces that would anger people and the

Nepali Congress-led government did not want to take that risk. Ministers have also said that the government can name provisional headquarters only if all the political parties agree on the names.

(UPDATED)

Prez suggests naming of provincial capitals as per constitution

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari told Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to name provisional headquarters of the provinces as per the spirit of the constitution and relevant laws.

The Head-of-State offered this suggestion to PM Deuba when he went to meet the President, said President’s Personal Secretary Bhesh Raj Adhikari.

Prime Minister’s Senior Media Expert Govinda Pariyar said, "PM Deuba’s meeting with the President today was part of the regular meeting that happens usually after 4-5 days.

“The Prime Minister also discussed some of the contemporary issues with the President,” he added.