Kathmandu. Section 25 of the National Bank Act states, ‘The Government of Nepal shall appoint a new Governor to the post of Governor in accordance with this Act, generally one month before the vacancy of the post of the incumbent Governor and shall publish and broadcast the notice thereof publicly.’
The term of the 17th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Maha Prasad Adhikari, is ending on Chaitra 24, but the government has not yet appointed the 18th Governor. Is it due to internal turmoil among the power-holders or for other reasons? But the delay in appointing the Governor is not only a sign of a violation of the law.
The two largest parties in parliament, Congress and UML, have formed this government by making a written agreement to amend the constitution itself. The government has about two-thirds of the popular vote. It has been confirmed that they can move forward by making major policy changes through ordinances whenever they want. But why is there a delay in appointing the governor, as specified by the law? Who is blocking the powerful government with two-thirds of the votes? This question is becoming complicated at this time.
Is the governor stuck in whose hands, Congress or UML? There is no question. Because people close to Congress have already been appointed as chairmen in the Nepal Securities Board and Nepal Insurance Authority, which are under the Ministry of Finance, which is held by UML leader Bishnu Poudel.
In addition, the Congress has recently made the Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University, the Chief of Nepal Police, and the Chief of the Disaster Management Authority its own. Looking at all these circumstances, it can be said that the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank has fallen into the hands of the UML.
If so, who stopped Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who is considered to be capable of making decisions, from appointing the governor who fell into his hands?
“Whenever Prime Minister Oli wants, he can have someone’s name recorded in the minutes that the governor has been appointed since the previous cabinet meeting, but I have not been able to figure out why it was stopped. The Congress has already given up on the governor. Who blocked the Prime Minister’s decision? I have not been able to understand.” A high-ranking UML source told Singha Durbar.
So, along with Oli, former Finance Minister Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, who is also the former Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, is in the role of economic development advisor.
Did the former Governor and former Finance Minister not advise Prime Minister Oli to appoint him as Governor or did Oli not accept Dr. Khatiwada’s advice? It is becoming a matter of curiosity.
Who will block the appointment of the governor?
Recently, it seems that middlemen have been dominating all public appointments. Be it the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal or the Nepal Insurance Authority. Even in the Nepal Stock Exchange, candidates who suit the wishes of the middlemen have been recommended, and it seems that the Council of Ministers only needs to put the seal on his name.
It seems that the powerful middlemen have put up their candidates in a way that is convenient for the party to which the governor belongs.
“The middlemen seem to have separate options ready for both the Congress and the UML. If they fall on the Congress side, they take a name from one pocket, if they fall on the UML side, they take a name from another pocket. Now, they are even carrying a common candidate for both parties.” A high-ranking source said.
The strength of those close to the UML is forcing Oli to think. Prime Minister KP Oli, who is under heavy siege from middlemen, had stood in Parliament a few days ago and clarified that he had not appointed any of his people anywhere.
At this time, Prime Minister Oli is said to be in a double bind. On one side, there is pressure from middlemen, and on the other side, there is pressure from party leaders, activists and businessmen close to the party. It is said that Prime Minister Oli is currently in a dilemma whether to choose a middleman or to hold the party line.
“Oli should not have taken so much time to appoint a governor, he is a brave leader who dissolved the parliament and issued an ordinance and appointed 52 people at once, we cannot understand what has happened now,” UML sources are saying. Some time ago, businessmen and employees close to the Nepali Congress had gone to meet President Sher Bahadur Deuba to say that the governor should not be removed. Similarly, it is understood that the Congress is delaying the appointment of the governor amid speculation that there will be a rift in the power balance due to Foreign Minister Arju Rana’s visit to India. The Congress understands that if the government falls soon, its share in other appointments, starting from the governor, will increase. However, Foreign Minister Rana has said that India’s desire is not for the government to change. However, the formation of the Governor’s Committee has been stalled by Congress.
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