Almost all broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Monday have published reports related to the swearing-in of Nepal’s new members of Parliament. Similarly, the visit by Pakistani Minister Abbasi of Pakistan has also received considerable attention. Most newspapers have also reported on their front pages that the first formal meeting of Parliament will take place later today. Parliament will then begin the process to select the new President and Vice-president and vote on a confidence motion to second Oli’s appointment as Prime Minister. Here’s a round up of the day’s important, ignored and interesting stories that made it to the front pages:
Important
Lawmakers of the Federal Parliament have formally assumed their responsibilities three months after their election, Kantipur reports. Members of both the Houses took their oath of office from the senior-most members of the Houses. The House is to formally convene later on Monday. The report says that the oath-taking ceremony was organised behind schedule as there were legal complications related to the provisions of the new constitution.
According to the Parliament Secretariat, the work schedule for the first few weeks of the House session has already been finalised. The two Houses will first endorse their working procedures and then begin the process of electing the chairs.
Bicameral legislature after two decades
Gorkhapatra reports that a bicameral House is taking charge as the country’s legislative organ after two decades. The country had adopted a unicameral legislature during the days of the Constituent Assembly. The bicameral legislature existed in Nepal for a long time after the restoration of democracy. Nepal’s Constitution of 1990 had provisions for a bicameral House.
Left Alliance-Forum deal still elusive
Naya Patrika says the Upendra Yadav-led Forum Nepal and the Left Alliance are yet to reach a power-sharing agreement, weeks after the two forces began negotiations. The paper says that three contentious issues emerged during the negotiations after top leaders from both the sides held talks on Sunday. Yadav has demanded that the UML make its stance clear on the issue of constitution amendment. Similarly, Yadav has demanded that he be made the senior-most Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet. The two forces also disagree on the number of ministers Forum Nepal is to get.
Ignored
Govt preparing to scrap Department of Drug Administration
Naya Patrika says that government is preparing to scrap the Department of Drug Administration as it has been hit by a manpower crunch. Citing sources, the paper says that the government is preparing to form a sub-unit under the Department of Health Services to replace the DDA.
Interesting
Finance Minister’s speech wipes off Rs 48 billion from stock market
Karobar reports that an ‘earthquake’ shook Nepal’s only stock exchange, NEPSE, after newly-appointed Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada said people investing in the stock market were putting their money in an ‘unproductive’ sector. According to the paper, the NEPSE plummeted by 41.56 points on Sunday and Rs 48 billion was wiped off from the market. The stock market has not been impressed by Khatiwada. In the past four days, it has already shed 55 points.
