Kathmandu, February 11
President Bidya Devi Bhandari is not happy with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s decision to recommend three members of National Assembly without holding consultations with major political forces.
A source at the President’s Office says the President will not consult political leaders on herself before endorsing the decision. Therefore, she may choose to keep the names on hold for now.
Earlier, following the Cabinet meeting on Friday, PM Deuba had recommended Krishna Prasad Paudel, Gopal Basnet and Chandani Joshi for the Upper House membership. Paudel and Basnet are cadres of his Nepali Congress party whereas Joshi is a women’s rights activist.
“The names have been received, but we are yet to hold consultations over the picks,” an official at the Sheetal Niwas says, “The President will appoint the members only after sufficient discussions.”
“The left alliance has secured a strong majority in recent elections. Therefore, it would have been better if the government had recommended the names on the basis of consensus after discuss with the parties,” another advisor to the President adds.
The source argues that the delay in appointment of these members will not affect the new government formation process; therefore, the names will be put on hold till the new government formation.
