UPDATE OF NEPAL POLITICS

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Feb.: The future course of Nepali politics remains uncertain even with the election of Jhalanath Khanal to replace Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal of his UML party after resigning seven months ago amid mounting Maoist pressure.
The appointment of Khanal last Thursday hasn’t broken a deadlock in politics but created new hurdles.
Maoists along with NC and other major parties Thursday boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary Bishnu Paudel and Ganga Lal Tuladhar without assigning them ministries to accommodate Maoists who didn’t join government Thursday after a failed talks between Maoists and UML.
Adhikari wasn’t given the finance portfolio as earlier reported].
The swearing-in ceremony was conducted by Khanal in the presence of President Dr. Ram BaranYadav.
UML had set aside ministries of finance, home and education for them.
Maoists didn’t give up their claim to the home ministry which would give them control of police and control of administering the country as elecions will be held if a constitution is promulgated by the second extended deadline of 28 May.
With Khanal, the council of ministers has four members all from UML.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha told parliament
Thursday his party will extend outside support to the Khanal governmentto beat ‘foreign and internal regressive forces.”
Despite the decision of NC and two other Madesh parties to stay in the opposition, asked all parties to join the government to draft a constitution and complete the peace process—two priorities of the new government.
Khanal addressed the legislature after formally appointing three ministers from his party following the Maoist boycott of government.
NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel told parliament he government ‘won’t ensure peace and constitution drafting’.
He criticized the seven-point agreement between UML and Maoists who accused Khanal and his party for renegading on the deal.
The new premier said he’ll adopt ‘maximum flexibility’ to include other parties in government to assemble a national government.
Khanal said another responsibility of his government was to announce budget enforced by the outgoing government.
The government will be cash-strapped in a budget for the remaining five months of the financial year isn’t approved by 17 February.
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SUPREME COURT AGAIN SAYS NO OPENING OF SHREE BHANDAR

Kathmandu, 10 Feb.: For the second time in 10 days, a two-judge bench of the supreme court Thursday directed the government not to open Pashupati Nath temple’s Shree Bhandar where offerings have been kept under lock/.
Nobody knows its contents.
The bench ruled the opening would let loose an ‘irreparable loss’ .
The previous government ordered the doors of the store room be
opened to minute contests for public display even at museums.
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AFGHANISTAN SNATCHES CUP DEFEATING NEPAL

Kathmandu, 10 Feb.: Nepal lost to Afghanistan by 81runs in the
final of the ACC U-19 Elite Cup cricket tournament in Bangkok
Thursday.
Chasing a target of 201 runs, Nepal was bowled out for 139 runs in 43.1 overs.
Nepal was a three-time champion.
Afghanistan was defeated by Nepal in the tournament in a group
match.
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