If parties can forge consensus, temporary capitals can be announced without ruffling many feathers

Kathmandu January 11

The government is likely to appoint governors before naming provincial temporary headquarters.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, a Cabinet meeting is likely to take a decision on governors tomorrow. However, he did not confirm whether the government would decide on PTHs during the same meeting.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba told mediapersons that the government was consulting political parties to arrive at a decision on governors and PTHs.

DPM Gachhadar said the government was trying to forge consensus with the CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Centre and Madhes-based forces before announcing PTHs.

“Bid to forge consensus on PTHs and governors is on,” Gachhadar told mediapersons at a programme organised by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party to mark National Unity Day here today.

“If we can forge consensus among parties, PTHs can be announced without ruffling many feathers,” said Gachhadar.

He admitted that appointment of governors is the government’s duty and added that they would be appointed accordingly. He refused to divulge the names the government was considering for heads of provinces.

“We have not been able to arrive at consensus largely due to objections from the UML and the CPN-MC,” he added.

The left alliance leaders have been saying that it is the incumbent government’s duty to appoint governors and name PTHs. However, earlier the UML had objected to the idea of the incumbent government naming governors, saying the new government would do so.

Appointment of governors is crucial for holding the National Assembly election. An electoral college comprising chiefs and deputy chiefs of local units and 550 members of provincial assemblies will elect the National Assembly. However, provincial assembly members are yet to be sworn in as governors have not yet been appointed.

According to the constitution, the Election Commission has to submit the final results of provincial assembly elections to governors who will administer the oath of office and secrecy to provincial assembly members. National Assembly election is slated for February 7.

(UPDATED)

Provincial chiefs soon on political consensus: PM Deuba

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government was working to nominate the provincial chiefs after forging a political consensus.

Speaking at a tea reception organised by the Rastriya Prajatantra Party on the occasion of National Unification Day in the Capital today, PM Deuba shared that nominating the provincial chiefs were essential even to administer the oath of office and secrecy to the newly elected provincial parliamentarians.

The Prime Minister also stressed on political consensus and unity to strengthen the national unity in a multicultural and multiethnic society.

Similarly, speaking at the programme, Deputy Prime Minister and RPP Chair Kamal Thapa shared that the government decision of announcing public holiday on the national unification day was praiseworthy and has been welcomed by political parties.

Former chair of interim council of ministers Khilraj Regmi, Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Defense Bhimsen Das Pradhan, CPN-UML leader Subas Nembang and high level officials were present at the programme.