CPN-UML, Congress discuss govt. expansion

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 13 June: Influential CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli and NC President Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday discussed expansion of Madhav Kumar Nepal government.
Nepal is also holding discussions with Koirala later Saturday.
CPN-UML central committee Friday empowered Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Nepal to select more party nominees in government.
Nepal held discussions with leaders of MJF Bijaya Kumar Gachedhar faction of MJF and TMLP Friday
Khanal told a meeting in Biratnagar Saturday the party had submitted nine nominees for ministers.
MJF has sought 10 positions in government—five cabinet and five ministers of state Friday .
Names suggested are Sharat Singh Bhandari, Jitendra Deb, Rameshwor Raya Yadav, Dr Tilak Rawal and Rameshwor Lal Kayastha.
It has taken Nepal nearly three weeks to expand the three-member government consisting of two more CPN-UML representatives.
Dr Rawal is chettri from the hills in the terai-based party.
Nepal told a political rally in the capital Saturday he hadn’t been able to work as desired because of the difficult situation.
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India has encroached on border

Kathmandu, 13 June: Two all-party and parliamentary team have found India has encroached on Nepali land in Dang.
Leader of the all-party probe team Amik Serchan said this in Dang Saturday at a news conference.
There’s no presence of the state at the border, the team concluded.
The teams came to a conclusion after a four-day study.
The Indian embassy claims there’s been no Indian encroachment
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Jhalanath Khanal to look after party school

Kathmandu, 13 June: CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal has entrusted responsibility to run the party school—a responsibility that will give him direct access to cadres to influence them ideologically.
Bidya Bhandari will manage the women’s section.
The party central; committee Friday night distributed responsibilities to 116 central committee members nearly four months after their election by a general convention in Butwal.
The party now heading the government has 17 divisions.
Ashok Rai has been entrusted organization responsibility while Bamdeb Deb will look after agriculture in the party.
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US official leaves for Bangladesh

Kathmandu, 13 June: US Assistant Secretary State for South Asia Robert O. Blake flew for Bangladesh Saturday after a two-day visit.
Blake arrived before the end of the UMNIN mandate on July 23; the issue figured in discussions with Nepali officials.
Senior UN official Samuel Tamrat was in town the same time canvassing support for the extension of the UNMIN mandate.
Blake told Maoist Chairman Prachanda at a meeting Friday to settle misunderstanding with parties and work for concluding the delayed peace process.
Before leaving for Dhaka, he said removal of Maoists from a terrorist list will depend on their behaviour.
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KP Oli leaving for India

Kathmandu, 13 June: CPN-UML leader KP Oli is leaving for India later Saturday for what has been described as medical treatment immediately after Congress-I swept elections.
Oli had a kidney transplant.
Oli is flying to New Delhi after the reappointment of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Oli is expected to hold political discussions with party leaders in the Indian capital.
Communists were routed in parliamentary in India but they dominate politics in Nepal.
Nepali political leaders frequent the Indian capital especially after government changes for consultations even on bilateral issues.
New governments have been installed both in Kathmandu and New Delhi.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“He [Girija] wouldn’t have nominated his own daughter for the post of foreign minister if he were a democratic leader.”

(RPP-Nepal leader Padma Sundar Lawati, The Himalayan Times, 13 June)
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