Four Madesh parties come together; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 July: Four Madesh parties with 56 seats in parliament/ constituent assembly (CA) decided Friday to develop ‘a common concept’ as elections are being held 21 July to elect a successor of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal while reactivating the front.
Significantly, the parties came together after MJFL and MJFN split one year ago and amid a fluid political situation with the likelihood of a new government being installed in Singha Durbar.
Besides the MJFL and MJFN, NSP and TMLP decided to jointly push a Madesh agenda after agreeing to a four-point agenda.
‘The morcha will be active on the Madesh issue,” said Chairman Upendra Yadav of the MJFN who returned this week after consultations with Indian leaders and officials in New Delhi.
“We’ll not back out, if it falls on our shoulders,” Yadav said on the likelihood of Madesh parries leading a government.
Four parties dismissed agreement between three big parties to form a state reorganization commission when the CA has been activated.
Meanwhile, Maoist office bearers; meet decided Friday to push a government led by the main opposition.
UCPN (Maoist) rejected a NC and UML proposal for the integration and resettlement of Maoist combatants in three weeks.
“The offer is not acceptable,” Secretary CP Gajurel said.
Maoists said the proposal of two ruling parties was an obstacle to the peace process while attempting to retain the status quo.
Maoist standing committee meets Saturday to continue discussions on the fluid political situation.
Nepali Congress Friday pushed its efforts to form a government under its leadership holding discussions with UML and smaller parties.
But an open split surfaced in the UML with influential politburo member opposing the candidacy of Chairman Jhalanath Khanal for premier.
‘He’s just a linesman and not a player,” Oli told a public meeting in the capital belittling Khanal.
Oli is close to Congress while Khanal is close with Maoists.
The political situation remained fluid Friday as parties attempt to strengthen their positions to wrest control of government.
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Memorial for Girija

Kathmandu, 16 July: The caretaker government decided Friday to construct a Girija Prasad Koirala Smarak in his memory.
Government Spokesman Shanker Pokhrel said land is being searched at Dadikot in Bhaktapur.
The site has been dragged into a controversy in the past..
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42 VDC secretaries resign in Sunsari

Kathmandu, 16 July: Forty-two VDC secretaries resigned enmasse in Sunsari Friday.
More than 1,500 secretaries have resigned amid threats from Samyutkta Jatiya Morcha.
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SPORTS
Supreme court stays decision of education ministry

Kathmandu, 16 July: Supreme court Friday stayed a decision of the education ministry to dismiss National Sports Council Vice-Chairman Pitambar Tilamshina.
Timilshina was dismissed three days ago after a brawl at the office of the member-secretary’s office over differences on the location of a stadium in the eastern region.
Timalshina challenged the ministry decision at the apex court Thursday.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

NRB again restricts gold imports

Kathmandu, 16 July: Nepal Rashtra Bank (NRB) Friday again restricted gold import amid in another attempt to prevent the flight of convertible currency.
The central bank decided to restrict import to 10 kg of yellow metal per day.
NRB had relaxed import control during the wedding season when 20 kg import was permitted per day.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The election for the successor of Madhav Kumar Nepal will be held 21 July. How will the election announced as gaijatra approaches be different from it? How different is Nepal’s politics from a daily gaijatra?”

(Yubaraj Ghimere, Annapurna Post, 16 July)
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