Most of the newspapers published in Kathmandu on Thursday have priortised reports related to the UML’s decision to field Bidya Devi Bhandari as its candidate for President. Similarly, the Nepali Congress’ decision to name Kumari Laxmi Rai as its candidate has also received considerable attention. Here’s a roundup of stories that made it to the front pages of the press on Thursday:
Important
President Bhandari set to retain job
The Kathmandu Post says incumbent President Bidya Devi Bhandari is likely to continue as the Left Alliance has a majority in both Houses of Parliament and in the provincial assemblies. According to the paper, Bhandari is likely to easily cross the 29,921 electoral votes required to be re-elected. Naya Patrika says it wasn’t easy for the UML leadership to choose Bhandari as the party’s candidate.
The paper says that UML senior leader Jhalanath Khanal was outraged by the leadership’s stance on Bhandari. He accused Chairman Oli of taking decisions unilaterally, going against the tradition of collective decision-making in the party. Simlarly, The Himalayan Times says the EC will accept complaints against candidates until 2:00pm today. After going through the complaints, the EC will again publish the final names of candidates by 4:00pm. Candidates willing to withdraw their candidature can do so between 4:30pm and 5:30pm. Polling is to take place on March 13.
RJP demands Vice-president, two ministerial berths
Annapurna Post says that the Madhesh-based RJP has set to riders for its participation in the Oli Cabinet. The party wants to choose the Vice-president and two ministers in the Oli Cabinet. During a telephone conversation between Thakur and Oli, the RJP leader is learnt to have conveyed his party’s demands. The paper reports that the Prime Minister assure Thakur that the government will try to help MP Resham Chaudhary, one of the suspects in the Tikapur killings, attend House proceedings. The RJP has already authorised party coordinator Mahanta Thakur to ink an agreement with the UML to join the ruling coalition.
Ignored
CDOs are still all-powerful in the districts
Annapurna Post reports that the Home Ministry is working on new laws to give additional powers to chief district officers. The report says that according to the draft legislation, the CDO will have the power to order security forces to even open fire to take the situation under control in case of emergencies. The paper says that the CDO shall be appointed by the centre and shall coordinate with the provincial leadership.
Former MPs haven’t returned govt laptops
Naya Patrika says 31 former MPs who were using govt-provided laptops during their tenure as lawmakers have not returned the machines to the Parliament Secretariat. According to the paper, the list of MPs who haven’t returned their laptops even includes members of the first Constituent Assembly. According to the law, the MPs should have surrendered the laptops seven days after the expiry of their respective tenure.
Interesting
Govt revises size of budget
Naya Patrika says the government has downsized this year’s budget after it could not spend billions of rupees it pledged to spend during the year. The government, in its annual budget, had said it would spend Rs 127 billion during the fiscal year, but now it has revised the figure to Rs 108 billion.
Govt preparing to file cases against expensive schools
Annapurna Post says that the government is preparing to file fraud cases against schools that are over-charging parents against the law. The report says that 15 schools that were found to be over-charging parents will now be taken to court.
