Kathmandu, May 3
Provinces 1 and 3 are likely to be named Koshi and Bagmati respectively as per a decision of the ruling Nepal Communist Party central leadership.
The party has the two-thirds majority in legislative bodies of both the provinces. Hence, the party decision is unlikely to be changed.
The party has not issued any directive to its provincial lawmakers officially; however, the decision has already been conveyed to leaders of both the provinces.
It has been learned that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli took interest in the ongoing discussions about the name and capital of Province 1 as he is from the same province. He has directed the leaders to retain Biratnagar as the provincial capital.
On the other hand, Oli and other central leaders decided to name Province 3 Bagmati and retain the provincial capital in Hetaunda itself.
Earlier, provincial lawmakers of the party in both the provinces were divided over the issue.
