Kathmandu. Discussions have begun between Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli regarding three appointments. The discussions have begun with the Election Commission and the Chief Secretary after the two leaders could not agree on who would take the governor’s appointment.
For the past one and a half months, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has been meeting Prime Minister Oli before every cabinet meeting. Deuba, who initially went alone, has now started taking Foreign Minister Arju Rana Deuba and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak with him.
Sources claim that both leaders have reached the conclusion that the governor cannot be left behind after middlemen showed a list of huge financial benefits regarding the governor’s appointment. Prime Minister Oli has already claimed that the governor has been given to the Nepali Congress. But the appointment of the governor has not been finalized due to technical difficulties.
The issue of the appointment of the governor has reached the Supreme Court through the House. Now, a discussion has begun between the two leaders on who will take the position of Chief Secretary and Chief Election Commissioner, said a leader of the CPN-UML. According to the leader, discussions have begun to finalize the position of Governor, Chief Secretary and Election Commission at once. The leader told Singha Durbar, “UML was prepared to delay the appointment of the Insurance Authority Chairman and appoint him at once, but Congress President Deuba did not agree. Now, efforts to reach an agreement have begun by keeping the Election Commission, Chief Secretary and Governor in one place.”
According to the leader, the UML wants to delay the appointment of the governor as long as possible. However, the Nepali Congress is pressuring to finalize the appointment of the governor immediately. Amidst rumors of the fall of power, Prime Minister Oli has reached Deuba Oli before every cabinet meeting, saying that he may unilaterally appoint a governor.
Election Commission Chief Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya has already bid farewell on Baisakh 5. Similarly, Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal is also in the process of retiring due to age.
Now both the Congress and the UML are looking for a suitable candidate to replace him. The current Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal is showing his desire to become the Chief Commissioner of the Election Commission. He is telling his close employees that the Election Commission is the best fit for him. Similarly, employees close to him claim that Aryal is trying to convince both the Congress and the UML parties. Sources claim that discussions are also underway on the option of giving Aryal the Election Commission and bringing Krishna Hari Pushkar as the Chief Secretary.
However, Deuba and Oli have now started looking at each other with suspicion. Oli has already given the Securities and Exchange Board, Insurance Authority and Nepal Stock Exchange under the Ministry of Finance at Deuba’s request. Oli was shocked when Deuba, who had taken three important appointments, did not give up his claim even on the appointment of governor. After receiving a warning from Deuba that the government would be toppled if the governor’s appointment did not fall within the Congress quota, Prime Minister Oli had said that Deuba would be given the governorship.
However, UML leaders have become suspicious of the Congress, saying that the Congress can also claim the Election Commission. Article 24 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 BS provides for the Election Commission. Clause 2 of the Constitution states that the President shall appoint the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council.
Currently, the ruling party does not have a majority in the Constitutional Council. The ruling and opposition parties have three members each. The Constitutional Council has a provision that the Prime Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Justice, and the leader of the main opposition party will be in the Constitutional Council. Currently, the Prime Minister, Speaker, and Chief Justice are on the ruling side, while the National Assembly and the leader of the main opposition party are with the Maoists. Similarly, the Deputy Speaker is with the National Independent Party.
It is difficult for the ruling party to appoint the Chief Commissioner in the Election Commission without a majority in the Constitutional Council. UML leaders are suspicious that Deuba is moving ahead with a plan to overthrow the government by getting the governor in his favor. Sources claim that the Congress is preparing to hand over the Election Commission to the UML.
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