Major Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Tuesday have highlighted political issues over others. Most of front-page stories deal with the delay in resolving the ongoing dispute about National Assembly law formulation, unification between CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre and the government formation. Other contemporary socio-cultural and financial issues have also got significant attention.
Important
UML, Maoist Centre working on unification modality
Naya Patrika claims the two communist parties which have said they will unify soon, UML and Maoist Centre, are working on the modality of leadership after the merger. The report claims top leaders of both the parties—UML’s KP Shamra Oli and Maoist Centre’s Pushpa Kamal Dahal—have been in continuous communication and the Unification Coordination Committee is likely to meet either today or tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Gorkhapatra says the two parties have called a meeting of the Committee for today and it will discuss in detail the unification model.
Republica‘s anchor story, however, reports that the mistrust between the two parties is on the rise as the government formation process has been stalled owing to differences among parties over the law on National Assembly elections.
Kantipur says Maoist leader Dahal is seen busy with various functions in his home district Chitwan for past few days, commenting this business in trivial affairs seems quite planned and meaningful.
Nepal Samacharpatra says the unification has been quite uncertain.
Forum likely to turn kingmaker in new govt formation
Annapurna Post lead story for the day says Upendra Yadav’s Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal is likely to be the decisive force for government formation as UML and Maoist Centre have failed to hold discussions over the issue in past few days. The report says UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal are piling pressure on each-other with Forum’s name. Mathematically, the UML can reach the majority mark if it gets support from the Forum.
Gorkhapatra says parties have begun preparations to for the new government. The Kathmandu Post informs that the UML and the Maoist Centre are discussing if the Cabinet positions can be shared on 60:40 ratio if the purported unification between them does not materialise anytime soon. However, if the unification is announced earlier, the proposed model will not be implemented.
Meanwhile, Rajdhani comments that top leaders of major parties seem to be ignoring the ongoing political stalemate.
Ignored
Gopal Khadka tries to go back to Corporation
The Ministry of Supplies official Gopal Bahadur Khadka, who was removed from the position of Nepal Oil Corporation chief after he was found involved in irregularities in the purchase of land to build petroleum storage facilities, has launched fresh attempts to go back to the Corporation, claims Nagarik. Recently, he met CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and requested him to make a conducive environment, according to the report.
Govt fails to spend Rs 640 million donors gave for peace process
The government has failed to spend Rs 640 million that foreign donors gave to facilitate the peace process here; therefore they have demanded that the government return the money, reports Rajdhani. Germany, however, has already announced that it will not take the money back; and the government has decided to deposit the money at its coffers.
Commission unable to announce provincial assembly results for want of chiefs
The Election Commission has been unable to announce final results of provincial assemblies as the constitution requires that details of the results have to be submitted to province chiefs and the government is yet to appoint the top officials, according to Kantipur. Further, the assemblies cannot hold their meetings as province chiefs have to administer the oath of office and secrecy to them, the report adds.
Nepal receives less than 10 per cent of reconstruction aid commitment
Naya Patrika lead story for the day says the Nepal government received less than 10 per cent of the amount committed by foreign countries and agencies for post-earthquake reconstruction support in past two and half years. Though the total commitment was Rs 410 billion, the government received Rs 26 billion, according to the report. The government had signed agreements for Rs 310 billion.
Meanwhile, the report quotes National Reconstruction Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Yubaraj Bhusal to say that the government is likely to host a donors’ conference against seeking more foreign support for the reconstruction drive.
Interesting
Nepalis in other countries spend more than the amount foreigners do here
Travel expenses of Nepalis visiting other countries are more than foreign tourists visiting here, the Nepal Rastra Bank has found. The Himalayan Times anchor story says while Nepalis spent Rs 25.25 billion for foreign travel in first four months of the current fiscal, the amount spent by foreigners here in the same period is Rs 22.72 billion. The trend is consistent for last four years, according to the report.
“Increasing outmigration of foreign job-seekers, students leaving country for studies overseas, incentive tours of corporate houses, among other reasons, raised the number of outbound travelers,” the report says, adding, “On the other hand, cheaper travel packages offered by the travel agencies also lured Nepali families to go abroad, according to travel and tour operators.”
