'PM Oli will neither resign from PM or Chairman'-Paudel

The ruling Nepal Communist Party's general secretary, Bishnu Paudel, has said Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli would not resign either as the party's chairman or as the prime minister.

In an interview, just hours before the main secretariat meeting of the party will begin on Saturday afternoon in Kathmandu, Oli's confidant says his resignation from either of the positions could lead the country to chaos and a political crisis.

"The demand for his resignation is untimely, against the interests of the people and the nation's need, and inappropriate from the perspective of the communist movement's future," he said.

Deadline for Communist party unification comes to an end. No progress in the unification progress

The extended deadline of two task-forces formed by CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center to prepare the party unification structure has come to an end. The extended deadline has been due past without any work done as the task-force members themselves were appointed ministers and could not focus on unification structure. Following their inability to finish the work in the extended deadline, both task-forces have prepared to submit the party unification structure to the Party Unification Coordination Committee on March 26. A member of a political and intellectual task-force under one of the unification task-force, Devendra Poudel said the task-force could not conduct its work due to other responsibilities such as cabinet expansion among others. The task-forces have so far reached agreement on the issues of party's guiding principle, Communist revolution in Nepal, World's Communist revolution among others. CPN-UML and CPN-MC had initiated the unification process publicizing on October 3rd, 2017 to contest the elections jointly and have been preparing to formally declare the party unification on the Lenin Day. The Party Unification Coordination Committee as per the seven-point agreement signed between the parties on February 19 had formed two separate task-forces to prepare the organisational and political structure of the unified party. The Party Unification Coordination Committee meeting on February 20 had directed the task-force to submit the report by 9th March. However following the failure to submit the report within the given time, the deadline was further extended by 10 days. 7 of the 11 members of task forces have been appointed as ministers. The unification task remained stalled after majority of the task-force members were appointed as ministers, keeping them engaged with ministry's work rather than unification structure.

Members of Pokhara-Lekhnath Minicipal assembly obstructs operations

The people's representatives elected from Nepali Congress in Pokhara-Lekhnath Metropolis have obstructed the operation of municipal assembly citing irregularities in employee recruitment procedures. Following the initiation of the operation of municipal assembly by Mayor Maan Bahadur G.C., Ward President Ramraj Lamichhane of Nepali Congress informed of halting the assembly unless the mentioned irregularities are investigated. During the same, Nepali Congress elected representatives also shouted slogans inside the assembly hall. Mayor G.C who held deliberations keeping 2 representatives each from Nepali Congress and CPN-UML was unsuccessful in his effort to reach consensus. A few days ago, the Metropolis had published vacancy advertisement for the post of Engineer, Sub-Engineer and land surveyor. The elected representatives of Nepali Congress expressed rage saying CPN-UML had appointed employees by foul-setting in the exams itself. They warned of halting the assembly processing until the employee recruitment process is cancelled.

8 members of Bilpav-led Communist party

District Police Office, Dhankuta have arrested eight people including central member of Netra Bikram Chand-led Nepal Communist Party. Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP Gautam Mishra has informed that they have been arrested in accusation of sending letter at municipality and rural municipality telling them to empty the local level and terrorizing people asking for donations. They were arrested from Hotel Hile View in Hile. Among the arrested are central member Kiran Rai, Koshi Bureau member Dipsan Limbu alias Sagar, Dhankuta In-charge Madhavb Gautam alias Akash Sharma, Sankhuwasabha In-charge Samul among others. The arrested leaders and cadres have been kept at District Police Office and that investigation is underway, informed DSP Mishra.

Ministry cabinet expanded by PM Oli

Prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli has expanded the cabinet on Friday. 6 new ministers from CPN-UML and 5 from CPN-MC were added to the cabinet. President Bidya Devi Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers. The newly appointed ministers comprise CPN-UML leaders Pradip Gyawali as minister of Foreign Affairs; Gokarna Bista as minister of Labour and Employment, Rabindra Adhikari as minister of Tourism, Raghubir Mahaseth as minister of Physical Infrastructure, Sher Bahadur Tamang as minister of law and Jagat Bishwakarma as Youth and Sports minister. Likewise the CPN-UML leaders added in the cabinet includes V arsamaan Pun as Energy and Hydro-resources minister, Girirajmani Pokhrel as Education minister; Shakti Basnet as Forest minister, Chakrapani Khanal as Agriculture minister and Bina Magar as minister for Water-supply and Sanitation. Similalry, CPN-UML's Gokul Baskota has become the Communication state-minister while Padma Aryal was appointed as Health state-minister. Further, CPN-MC leaders Dhan-Bahadur Budha has been appointed as Tourism state-minister and Ram Kumari Chaudhari as Agriculture state-minister. Prime minister K.P. Oli administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed state ministers in Shital Niwas.

Resham Chaudhary brought to Kathmandu today

Kailali constituency number 1 parliamentarian Resham Chaudary, who has been in custody in charge of the Tikapur mishap has been brought to Kathmandu for medical treatment. Chaudhary had been on continuous hunger strike for the past 6 days demanding his release during which he suddenly fell unconscious Saturday noon. He was admitted to the Seti Zonal Hospital for treatment. Chief District Officer Govinda Rijal informed parliamentarian Chaudhary was referred to Kathmandu for further treatment following high blood pressure and discovery of blood in urine. Chaudhary who was taken to the Seti Zonal Hospital from jail in unconscious state saw slight improvement in his condition after his initial treatment. 24 individuals including Chaudhary have been staging on hunger strike from March 4 inside the prison premises. All prisoners on hunger strikes are charged of the Tikapur mishap. They staged the hunger strike with demands to certify Chaudhary for his win in the representative assembly election, to allow him take oath of office, to release all 26 accused with compensation and to fulfill all demands made by the Tharuhat struggle committee. Meanwhile, the leaders of Rastriya Janata Party also held deliberations with Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa demanding the release of Chaudhary.

PM Oli to take vote of confidence today

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli will take vote of confidence from the Representative Assembly at 3 p.m. today. PM Oli will take vote of confidence as per the sub-article 4 under Article 76 of the constitution in the Representative Assembly session scheduled at 3 this afternoon. Senior-most member of the Parliament Mahantha Thakur informed of the same at a parliament meeting held on Saturday. As per the Constitution, new Prime Minister should win the vote of confidence from the Parliament within 30 days of appointment. President Bidya Devi Bhandari on February 15 had appointed CPN-UML Chairman and Parliamentary Party leader Oli endorsed by CPN-MC as the 38th Prime Minister of Nepal.

Silent period for Presidential election starts from Tuesday

The silent period has begun from midnight Saturday aiming the presidential election to be held coming Tuesday. The Election Commission informed that once the silent period is in effect, all political parties, candidates, leaders of political parties, citizens, and general voters are prohibited from indulging in any form of canvassing. The Commission has urged the media to avoid publishing news articles in favor or against any candidate or political party and also to avoid publishing or broadcasting contents on voters survey which might affect the upcoming presidential election. Commission's spokesperson Navraj Dhakal informed that messaging, internet and social media platforms for election promotion have also been prohibited during the silent period. In the presidential elections slated for March 13, Tuesday, incumbent president Bidya Devi Bhandari from CPN-UML and Kumari Laxmi Rai from Nepali Congress will be vying for the post of President. The Federal and Provincial assembly parliamentarians are to cast vote in the presidential elections.

Mahara elected as Speaker of House of Representatives

CPN Maoist Center leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been elected unopposed to the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives. CPN Maoist Center leader Mahara being the only candidate for the post of speaker, was elected unopposed. He filed his candidacy arriving at the Federal Parliament building in New Baneshwor. Mahara filed candidacy on proposal of CPN-UML leader Subash Chandra Nembang. He was endorsed by CPN-MC's Dev Gurung. Major opposition party Nepali Congress decided not to file candidacy at all. Speaking after filing his candidacy leader Mahara said that the federal parliament has the task of forming many laws in its way ahead and the same would be his priority. He expressed commitment to gather consensus with all parties on proceeding with the federal procedures.

Writ of former PM Deuba halted. 3 parliamentarians to take oath

The Supreme Court has lifted the order to halt the oath-taking of the three parliamentarians nominated in the National Assembly. The parliamentarians nominated by the government are Yubraj Khatiwada, Ram Narayan Bidari and Bimala Rai Poudel. However, their oath-taking procedure was halted after Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government filed writ against the same. Nonetheless, bench of justice duo Kedar Prasad Chalise and Sharda Prasad Ghimire paved the way for oath-taking ceremony saying there was no reason to halt the same.

PM Oli informs moving ahead as per direction of multi party

Prime Minister and CPN- UML Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli has informed of moving ahead as per the working direction of multi-party populism post the party unification between CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center. PM Oli said to this effect at a programme held on the occasion of the 45th martyrs' memorial day at UML party headquarters in Dhumbarahi. Saying the unification process has reached the final stage, PM Oli said they will give surprise to those who detest the party-unification. He was of the view that the nation will now be operated by Communist party. He expressed commitment to make the nation free of corruption. He also said the republicanism in the country was possible due to the contribution of martyrs including Ramnath Dahal, Netra Ghimire, Biren Rajbanshi, Krishna Kuinkel and Narayan Shrestha among others.

Vote of trust presenting program postponed to Tuesday

The program of presenting Vote of Trust to Chief Minister of province no 7 Trilochan Bhatta, which was scheduled for Monday, has been postponed for Tuesday. The function was deferred, pasting the information following the protest staged by Karan Thapa's family, who was killed on the day of Holi festival. Provincial assembly of province no 7 has majority of members from CPN-UML and CPN- Maoist Center. Meanwhile, police arrested two persons from Balaju, Kathmandu in suspicion of their involvement in Thapa's murder.

Deuba elected as NC party leader

Sher Bahadur Deuba has been elected as Nepali Congress's parliamentary party leader. Deuba defeated former General Secretary Prakash Man Singh with a margin of 25 votes in the voting that held on Monday. Deuba secured total of 44 votes while his rival Singh could secure only 19 votes. Nepali Congress has total of 63 members in the parliamentary party including 23 from first-past-the-post (FPTP) system and 40 from proportional representation system. Meanwhile, the meeting of Congress parliamentary party nominated Vijaya Kumar Gachhyadar as the party's Deputy Leader following the election of parliamentary party leader. Talking with media persons after the meeting, Deuba said the Congress will oppose the wrong-doing of the incumbent government in the short period of its formation.

Federal Parliament Session begins

Federal Parliament Session has commenced from Monday. The sessions of Representative Assembly and National Assembly were held this afternoon separately as called by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari. The meeting of representative assembly held under chairmanship of senior member Mahant Thakur, paid tribute to martyrs mourning for two minutes. President read aloud the letter regarding calling of meeting, appointment of prime minister and cabinet expansion. The meeting has endorsed representative assembly interim working method until formulation of the assembly regulatory. Although Assembly member of Nepal Laborers and Peasants Party Prem Suwal expressed objection on the same, Senior assembly member Thakur overruled it saying the regulatory was yet to be formulated. Other five assembly members have been added to chair the assembly session. The next meeting of the parliament will be held 11 am Tuesday.

Parliamentarians to take oath today

Parliamentarians of the Federal Parliament are to take oath of office today, three months after the election. The oath-taking ceremony has delayed as per the constitutional provision of publishing the final result of the election towards proportional representation only after national government formation. 330 out of total of 334 parliamentarians are likely to take the oath today including 275 members from representative assembly and 59 from Federal Parliament. However, oath-taking ceremony of National assembly members Dr Yubraj Khatiwada, Ram Narayan Bidari and Dr. Bimala Poudel Rai- nominated as per the government recommendation, will not be held today as the Supreme Court has imposed a halt on the same. Likewise, Resham Chaudhary, elected as representative assembly member from Kailali-1 will also not take the oath as he is behind bars due to his alleged involvement in Tikapur-carnage. Senior members will administer the oath in both the assemblies. The oath-taking ceremony of representative assembly will be held at 4 pm whereas National Assembly at 5 pm at the respective assembly halls.

CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist holds combined meeting

CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center have imparted a joint political training to their parliamentarians on Saturday. In a joint meeting held at the Federal Parliament building in Baneshwor, parliamentary party leaders from both the parties directed the parliamentarians to be responsible towards the nation and the people. Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister and CPN-UML parliamentary party leader K.P. Sharma Oli directed the parliamentarians to proceed according to the democratic values and principles. Urging parliamentarians to present themselves in the parliament in disciplined manner, PM Oli directed them to avoid any conduct that is unacceptable to the people. He also urged the newly elected parliamentarians to dedicate themselves to public service. Saying the government will honestly live up to the responsibility of nation formation assigned by the people, PM Oli expressed commitment to open the doors to development and prosperity one after another. Speaking during the meeting, CPN-MC parliamentary party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal urged the newly elected peoples' representative to consider themselves as public servant. He directed the parliamentarians to proceed with a new approach to work in favor of the people and the nation. In the meeting chairperson of both parties said that its not too long before two parties become one. The meeting was called to provide political training to the parliamentarians prior to the Parliamentary sessions which begins from Monday.

UML-Maoist combination urges Forum to join government

Leaders of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Center have urged Federal Socialist Forum and Rastriya Janata Party to join the government without holding any preconditions. Speaking at a program organised in Kathmandu, CPN-UML leader Rabindra Adhikari and CPN-MC leader Dilnath Sharma urged the parties to first join the government saying that the constitution would only be amended in a way it is feasible for all. Speaking during the same program, Federal Socialist Forum party secretary general Ram Sahaya Yadav and Rastriya Janata Party leader Manish Suman said that they would not proceed to participate in the government solely based on agreement with a single individual rather, they would do so, only after making formal agreements with both CPN-UML and CPN-MC. Likewise, Nepali Congress Leader Pradip Poudel said the Nepali Congress would always support the government in matters of works done for national prosperity but would also keep a tight watch if things go awry.

PM Oli states the first priority of Nepal as economic development.

Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli has said that the government's first priority is the economic development of the country. Laying the foundation of the Manmohan Cardio-thoracic Vascular and Transplant Center in Kathmandu on Friday, PM Oli said that the nation is now set to proceed in the path of economic prosperity. Saying the government would not pardon anyone indulging in corrupt practices, PM Oli made an appeal to all to contribute towards putting an end to corruption. Adding that the government elected by people's majority, is fully dedicated towards public oriented works, Oli directed all state servants to avoid any delay in doing the people's work. Saying that the hospitals must be service-oriented, PM Oli also urged to never measure patient services in terms of money. Putting forward the idea of 'first treatment, then payment' he added that the government would work to create an environment where people are not deprived of medical services due to lack of financial availability. The Manmohan Cardio-Thoracic infrastructure is to be constructed under the total budget of Rs 300 million. Hospital's executive director Dr. Uttam Krishna Shrestha informed that the building will be constructed in 19 months and 40 well equipped patient beds would also be added.

Pakistani PM to visit Nepal

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is to arrive in Nepal for his official two-day state visit. Pakistani PM Abbasi is arriving in Nepal on Monday to congratulate K.P. Sharma Oli for his success in the recent election and being elected to the post of Prime Minister. During his course of stay in Nepal, Pakistani PM Abbasi is said to be indulged in high level meetings with the leaders and high level officials of Nepal. It has been informed that during his meeting with Nepali officials, discussion will also be held on the issue of SAARC Summit which remains stalled since long. Nepal holds the position of SAARC Secretariat while Pakistan is the organising country for the next SAARC Summit.

Decision of reducing ministry number unimplied

The government decision of reducing the number of ministries from 31 to 18 including prime minister and cabinet office has not seen any implementation in Singhadurbar despite a week after the decision. There still exist same number of ministries in Singhadurbar. All the ministries have the same boards pasted and the works are also ongoing in the same departmental manner. It is learnt the reduction of number of ministries has not taken place as the ministries have not yet received the circular from the cabinet. The decision has not yet come into effect as the management of the secretaries, working employees has not been finalized. Joint secretary of General Administration Nita Pokharel said the decision has reached the implementation phase. It is learnt the procedure of merging ministries will start from Friday as the decision was informed in the respective ministries only on Wednesday.