As election fever grips all walks of life in Nepal, broadsheet papers published in Kathmandu on Tuesday have also given priority to election-related reports on their front pages. Two highway accidents in different parts of the country that claimed 20 lives have also received attention.
Here’s a summary of stories covered by the press today:
Important
Congress manifesto is tirade against left
The ruling Nepali Congress party is giving final touches to its manifesto for the upcoming elections. According to a draft of the manifesto obtained by the media, the document is a tirade against the newly-formed left alliance and tries to cash in on voters’ fears about the possibility of an all-communist government after the elections.
Kantipur says the Grand Old Party accuses the UML of impeding national unity and prosperity and the CPN-Maoist Centre Centre of being a pack of opportunists who do not adhere to any ideology. Similarly, Rajdahni reports that the manifesto warns the people that a communist victory would usher in instability in the country. Nagarik also says the manifesto warns that the communist alliance will go for a directly-elected president by amending the constitution and that will hurt the country.
Republica, however, has chosen to focus on a different aspect of the manifesto. It says that the document calls for state support to citizens from ‘womb to tomb’. The report says that the manifesto proposes a universal health insurance package that even covers the unborn. Similarly, Karobar says that the party, in its manifesto, says it wants to double the size of the economy within the next five years.
Some of the papers also have a report saying that the Nepali Congress has named billionaire Binod Chaudhary as its PR candidate for federal Parliament.
Highway accidents claim 2o
Most of the newspapers have given priority to reports two highway accidents in different parts of the country that claimed 20 people, just a day after 31 people lost their lives in the Trishuli bug plunge.
Election Commission starts printing separate ballot papers for FPTP seats
Some of the newspapers have reported on the Election Commission’s answer to the Supreme Court that is has started printing separate ballot papers for FPTP seats for provincial and parliamentary elections.
Ignored
Govt doles out Rs 40 million to supporters
Annapurna Post reports that the government has doled out over Rs 45 million to Nepali Congress supporters under various pretexts, just ahead of the elections. According to the report, a recent Cabine meeting decided to dole out the funds as ‘financial assistance’ to 310 Nepali Congress sympathisers.
Interesting
Federalism implementation to cost Rs 1.6 trillion
Karobar, in its lead story for the day, says Nepal will have to spend Rs 1.6 trillion to implement the new federal structure, after elections at all levels are completed. The report quotes former finance secretary Santa Raj Subedi to say that the whole exercise it going to be expensive. He says that a big chunk of the amount will go towards the development of government infrastructure at the grassroots.
