Almost all broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu on Tuesday have given priority to reports on Pakistani Prime Minister Abbasi’s visit to Kathmandu and the election of Deuba as the Nepali Congress’ leader in Parliament. Other stories that have received significant coverage are related to the election of president. Here is a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages of the newspapers on Tuesday:
Important
Bhandari, Khanal in race to become President
CPN UML, the ruling party of Nepal, is reported to be divided on its candidate for the post of President. While a faction of party leaders are in favour of current President Bidya Devi Bhandari, another faction wants former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal to become the new head of state. Naya Patrika says that a group of leaders are actively lobbying in favour of Khanal as they do not want Bhandari elected for a second term in office.
Khanal has publicly announced that he is in the race to become President. The paper says that UML leaders Bamdev Gautam, Yubraj Gyawali, Asta Laxmi Shakya, Ghanashyam Bhushal, Bhim Acharya, Yogesh Bhttarai, Gokarna Bista, Surendra Pandey and Kiran Gurung have backed Khanal for the post. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Oli, Ishwor Pokhrel, Bishnu Paudel, Pradeep Gyawalu, Subas Nembang and Shanker Pokhrel stand in Bhandari’s favour. Former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal has decided not to take any sides.
More than a dozen rules to regulate Parliament
Nagarik says more than a dozen new rules have been introduced to regulate the functioning of Parliament. It says that Parliament has been given the right to suspend lawmakers for up to 15 days if their conduct violates the code. Similarly, MPs have been barred from using their mobile phones during House meetings.
Ignored
Where is Lal Babu’s ministry?
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli appointed Lal Babu Pandit as his Minister for Population and Environment. But after the reorganisation of the ministries, the ‘environment’ bit is being looked after the Ministry of Forests and Environment and the ‘population’ bit is being looked after the Ministry of Health and Population–both ministries are under the Prime Minister for now, reports Nepal Samacharpatra.
Interesting
New security arrangement for VVIPs
Annapurna Post reports that the Ministry of Home Affairs is working on a new strategy to provide security to VVIPs. The report says that the President, Vice-president, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of House of Representatives and the Chairman of the National Assembly will receive the highest level of security. Similarly, the other levels of security will be accorded to VVIPs based on their hierarchy.
