Election-related coverage continues to dominate the front page of major broadsheet dailies published in Kathmandu. On their Tuesday edition, the newspapers have given space to a wide range of issues related to the elections: from candidate profiles to the effect the polls are going to have on the economy. Here’s a summary of stories that made it to the front of the papers on Tuesday:
Important
Election Commission done printing ballot papers for first phase
The Himalayan Times reports that the Election Commission has printed the seven million ballot papers needed for the first phase of provincial and parliamentary first-past-the-post election slated for November 26. The report quotes EC spokesperson Navaraj Dhakal as saying that the commission has started sending the ballot papers to 32 districts where the elections are taking place in the first phase. The paper also reports that counting of votes for both the phases will begin after 5:00 pm on December 7. EC Information Officer Surya Prasad Aryal said the ballot boxes from the first round of elections will be placed under police security ahead of the counting process.
The paper also reports that the Supreme Court has refused to issue an interim order against the election commission over a writ petition demanding voting rights for government employees who will be deployed during the first and second phases of the election. Republica says the court has given the commission the authority to decide about the voting rights of polling staff.
Maina Sunuwar case: SC orders lower court to produce documents
The Kathmandu Post reports seven months after three former Nepali Army officials were sentenced to life, the Supreme Court has registered an appeal against the verdict and demanded case documents from the Kavre District Court. The paper says that the ruling came in response to a writ filed by Captain Saroj Regmi on behalf of the Nepal Army on September 22 demanding that the verdict of the Kavre District Court in the hi-profile case be overturned.
Govinda KC’s seven-day ultimatum to the President
Republica says activist Dr Govinda KC, who has been lobbying for reforms in the medical education sector, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the President to approve the Medical Education Ordinance, which was recently issued by the government.
Ignored
Rs 5 billion spent on Bagmati cleaning, progress not visible
Annapurna Post reports that although Rs 5 billion has been spent on cleaning the Bagmati river, but visible progress has not been made so far, more than 20 years after the government decided to clean the river. The report quotes river conservation activist Megh Ale as saying that he has been demanding that the government make public the details of its expenditure over the project, but to no avail.
Cost of Bhairahawa airport up by 335 per cent
Karobar reports that the government had set aside Rs 8 billion for the construction of Gautam Buddha International Airport, but the project is expected to overshoot its budget by a whopping 335 per cent. The report says that although a big plot of land is required for the new airport, the government has not acquired necessary land for the purpose. The price of land in the area has shot up due to the development of the airport, and the government will have to pay extra for it.
Interesting
Rs 43 billion to change hands during elections
Naya Patrkia estimates that over Rs 43 billion will change hands during the leadup to the provincial and parliamentary elections. It says that the Election Commission is going to spend Rs 20 billion on the elections and the candidates are estimated to spend over Rs 23 billion on their campaigns.
Rajdhani reports most of the members of the business community in Nepal have gone out of contact ahead of the elections as political parties press them for donations. They have demanded that the government frame guidelines for political parties to raise funds.
