Communists poised to takeover in Nepal; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 Aug: Communists are poised to form a majority government for the
first time in Nepal later Friday.
CPN-UML was the first elected government but without a majority following restoration of banned political parties in 1990—a government which was overthrown by parliament.
But the government which Maoist Chairman Prachanda is being formed with a two-third majority of CA cannot be topple that easily.
The 10 April CA election that installed CPN (Maoist) as the largest party has been accepted as free and fair at home and abroad.
Prachanda will be prime minister and General Secretary of CPN-UML JhalanathKhanal will be the deputy prime minister.
The communist parties dumped Nepali Congress and outgoing Prime Girija Prasad Koirala after the declaration of a republic by abolishing monarchy after the CA vote.
There was no reason for communists to continue their support for Koirala and Congress after the abolition of monarchy; Koirala helped establish communists in power on both occasions destroying traditional institutions, himself and the party which will now be in the opposition..
With the unceremonious exit of Koirala, the aging, sick octogenarian cannot stage a comeback in government and he will have to spend his last days in the opposition.
Until the last, Koirala was hoping to be the country’s first president or the head of a anti-Maoist government of democratic parties.
He even wanted to continue for 10 years with a coalition government with Maoists.
All his plans and dreams were foiled and shattered.
CPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and MJF have been allocated nine, six and four ministries each in a power sharing arrangement.
Maoists have been allocated the ministries of defence, finance, peace and reconstruction, physical planning, education, land reforms management, transport, law and justice and youth ministries in a likely power-sharing arrangement discussed before the CA vote for prime minister..
CPN-UML will likely get the ministries home, water resources, foreign affairs, local development, tourism and forest and soil conservation.
Ministries of information and communication, agriculture and cooperatives, industry and commerce, women , children and social welfare hve been set aside for MJF..
One ministry each has been set aside for CPN-ML, Janamorcha Nepal, CPN-United and Sadbhavana Party (D).
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PM Koirala vacating Baluwatar Saturday

Kathmandu, 15 Aug: Outgoing Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will vacate his official residence at Baluawatar Saturday after the election of his replacement Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda later Friday.
Koirala will move into the residence of nephew Dr Shashanka Koirala at Maharajgunj.
Koirala has been living there when out of government.
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Chief of NOC sacked

Kathmandu, 15 Aug: Chief of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) Diganbar Jha was sacked Thursday by supplies minister Shyam Sundar Gupta even as the government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was packing bags to leave.
Gupta charged Jhapa of corrupt practices.
Jha has gone missing.
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Valley strike to sabotage Miss Nepal Contest 2008

Kathmandu, 15 Aug: A Valley strike has been called 23 August to sabotage Miss Nepal Contest 2008 opposed by Maoists.
This year’s contest has been postponed once already because of mainly Maoist protest.
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Nepali injured in Indian police firing

Kathmandu, 15 Aug: A Nepali was injured Wednesday in a firing by Indian forest guards at Murtaiya jungle in Bardiya.
Milan Lodh of Gulariya was injured.
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Why Deuba registered nomination for prime minister

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 Aug: Why did Sher Bahadur Deuba register his nomination in behalf of Nepali Congress, asks Sambodhan weekly.
The reason—Deuba and a diplomat of a power western country [read US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell] Wednesday met for hours with an agreement for a meeting of American and Indian diplomats Thursday night.
Sources said that meeting was held Thursday night after Deuba filed his nomination for prime minister.
The meeting discussed the capture of power by Maoists as Fidel Castro did in Cuba.
In Cuba, Castro finally captured by first including nationalists in government.
Such a scenario was discussed at the meetings.
Agreement was reached for Deuba to file his nomination to prevent CPN-UML and Forum from joining Maoists in government.
That’s why Deuba file his nomination.
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