The last time a single big issue dominated the front pages of broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu was when Nepal promulgated a new constitution in 2015. This time around the issue of the proposed unification of two of Nepal’s biggest communist parties has done the same. Not only the front pages, but the op-eds, editorials and the political pages have given prominence to the issue.
Important
Leaders of CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Centre and Naya Shakti Party Nepal agree to unify the parties, in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, October 3, 2017.
Nepali Congress forms a ‘democratic’ alliance to counter the left
Most newspapers have given prominence to the Nepali Congress’ initiative to form a ‘democratic’ alliance with the ‘non-leftists’, including the Madhesh-based parties. Nagarik and Republica in their main story for the day say the Nepali Congress has successfully negotiated a deal to form a six-party alliance for the upcoming elections. According to the paper, the allies are: Nepali Congress, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal, Forum Loktantrik. Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Prajatantrik, and. Kantipur says the ‘democratic’ alliance has formed a seven-member committee to thrash out its electoral strategy. Alliance member and RJP leader Sharat Singh Bhandari tells Annapurna Post that the new coalition was formed to counter the threat of communist autocracy in Nepal. Similarly, Hindu nationalist leader Kamal Thapa tells the paper that the alliance was formed to protect democracy.
Deuba worried about fate of the government
Following the decision of the ruling ally Maoist Centre to forge an electoral alliance with the main opposition, the UML, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has consulted his lawyers on the fate of the government. Annapurna Post and Kantipur say the Prime Minister consulted his legal team in Baluwatar on Wednesday. Attorney General Basanta Ram Bhandari tells Annapurna Post that the lawyers advised the Prime Minister not to think about a Maoist withdrawal as the party has said it will continue support to the government. The team told the Prime Minister and other senior Congress leaders that the government should refrain from making any move as it could have a bearing on the elections.
Not thinking about quitting govt: Maoists
File image: Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Nagarik, Republica and The Himalayan Times say that the new left alliance will continue supporting the government. The Himalayan Times quotes Maoist leader Agni Prasad Sapkota and the UML’s Subas Nembang to say that the alliance believes that it is not the right time to change the government. Nembang says the government will be reduced to care-taker status after two weeks as nominations are filed for the federal elections and the Prime Minister cannot reshuffle his Cabinet.
Meanwhile, the new alliance has formed two committees to select candidates and prepare a manifesto for the elections, Kantipur says.
Ignored
TIA expansion delay affects additional flights from China and the UAE
File image: Tribhuvan International Airport
Karobar in its lead story for the day says the delay in the expansion of Nepal’s only international airport, TIA, has affected plans to launch additional flights from China and the UAE. According to the report, only one-fourth of the expansion work has been completed so far even as the deadline for the project has elapsed. The report says that according to the air service agreement between Nepal and China and Nepal and the UAE, 70 flights are possible between the two countries per week. But the TIA cannot be used to fulfil the quota as it has congestion problems.
Rs 26 billion needed to compensate land owners before Kathmandu road expansion
Naya Patrika says the government needs to pay Rs 23 billion as compensation to land owners before it can continue the road expansion drive around Kathmandu. This figure was calculated after the Supreme Court ruled recently that the expansion can go on only after land owners whose property will be affected be compensated.
Interesting
First-even woman lakhe in Bhaktapur
Gorkhapatra, in its anchor for the day, tells the tale of the first-ever woman lakhe (traditional masked dancer) in Bhaktapur. Sabina Sainju was recently granted permission by community elders to take up the task. She says dancing for one hour with heavy clothing and crown was difficult, but she enjoyed every bit of it.
Voter count reaches 15.4 million
Arthik Abhiyan says a total of 15,427,731 voters have been deemed eligible to vote during the upcoming elections in Nepal. Most of the papers have also reports on the Election Commission’s decision to name returning officer for the polls.
