Biratnagar/Dhankuta, April 30

The Cabinet meeting of Province 1 today decided to set up the chief minister’s contact office in Dhankuta, though the name and permanent headquarters of Province 1 are yet to be fixed.

The decision, however, has not gone down well with denizens of Dhankuta who see it as a ploy not to make Dhankuta the permanent headquarters.

With the adoption of a federal system, the temporary headquarters of Province 1 was shifted to Biratnagar from Dhankuta. The Cabinet meeting that was convened today took a decision to this effect.

Provincial government Spokesperson and Minister of Internal Affairs and Law Hikmat Kumar Karki said the Cabinet had decided to keep the CM’s contact office in a building that housed the erstwhile Eastern Regional Administration Office. According to Karki, the name and permanent headquarters of the province will be decided by May 5.

Dhankuta locals say establishment of the CM’s contact office is the government’s ploy to take Dhankuta locals for a ride.

Provincial lawmaker Indramani Parajuli said the decision to keep the CM’s contact office in Dhankuta was normal.

“The meeting is yet to take up the agenda to fix the headquarters,” said Parajuli. According to him, the decision is in line with proposals tabled in the first provincial meeting to keep offices of education, health and transport in Dhankuta. He said they would fight to make Dhankuta the provincial capital till the last moment.

Make Dhankuta Capital of Province 1 Struggle Committee Coordinator Sundarbabu Shrestha said, “We called off our struggle after the government assured us it would make Dhankuta the centre of the province. We shall launch the struggle from tomorrow.”

The provincial government has decided to set up transport service office, in addition to the chief minister’s contact office in the district.