सिंहदरबार संवाददाता
Kathmandu. A rift has begun between Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba over the appointment of a governor at Nepal Rastra Bank.
Prime Minister Oli wants to appoint a governor from the UML quota. But Deuba has taken a stand that the governor’s post should come from the Congress quota.
Aspirants close to UML and Congress are pressuring Oli and Deuba not to give up the governorship. A search is underway for a common character that is suitable for both parties, but putting forward such a common character seems to be an obstacle to the appointment and nomination criteria of 2073 (First Amendment) for officials and members of public bodies affiliated with the Ministry of Finance. Both the candidates considered by both the parties as common candidates are over 65 years of age. The criteria stipulate that officials of bodies under the Ministry of Finance should be less than 65 years of age to be appointed.
Before proceeding with the appointment process at the Nepal Insurance Authority and the Nepal Stock Exchange, the Ministry of Finance had removed the criteria for the appointment and nomination of officials and members of public bodies affiliated to the Ministry of Finance, 2073 (First Amendment), from its website. Now, a situation has arisen that this criterion itself should be scrapped.
‘Contestants close to the Congress are pressuring senior leaders, including President Deuba, to get the governorship in their share. Aspirants close to the UML are also using various channels to pressure Prime Minister Oli not to leave the governorship.’ A high-ranking source said.
The previous two important appointments, the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal and the Nepal Insurance Authority, have been made by figures close to the Congress, Santosh Narayan Shrestha and Sharad Ojha, respectively. The next important appointment is the governorship and the pressure on Oli to keep that in his share is on the UML.
But won’t the appointment of the governor cause a rift in the ruling coalition? It is said that the fear of this has started to haunt UML leaders.
Oli was shocked after seeking a part in the recommendation committee, the Council of Ministers was undecided
Although there was discussion about forming a governor recommendation committee in the cabinet meeting on Falgun 21, no decision could be made. There is a legal provision that a former governor and an expert member should be in the three-member committee led by the Finance Minister. The Nepali Congress had also sought its representation in the three-member recommendation committee. Sources say that Oli was shocked after the Congress sought a part in the recommendation committee. ‘The discussion on who will be the governor has not started yet, the cabinet meeting on Falgun 21 could not form the recommendation committee after the Congress sought a share in the recommendation committee.’, the source said.
The Nepali Congress is said to have proposed to share the governor and the Election Commission. However, the UML has taken a stand that since the Rastra Bank and the Election Commission are different bodies, such a division should not be made. ‘We have left the Securities and Exchange Board of Nepal and the Nepal Insurance Authority to the Congress, but we can also give NEPSE, but we cannot leave the governor. Congress is our main competitor, we have told it that good appointments cannot be given to it unilaterally.’, a high-ranking source close to UML told Singha Durbar.
Maha Prasad Adhikari has increased the value of the leadership of Nepal Rastra Bank as the governor.
These are the aspirants
The names of about a dozen people are in the news to become the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. Some of them seem to be trying to become common candidates, while party leaders are misleading them on the basis of faith. Some contenders are also seen running for the office of the business community.
Current Deputy Governors Nilam Dhungana and Bam Bahadur Mishra are also seen in the race to become governor. There is a legal provision that when the Governor Recommendation Committee led by the Finance Minister recommends the names of three people, the name of one of the two deputies must be included. Both of them are in the process of being recommended and becoming governor, which is natural.
In addition, the names of Chintamani Shivakoti, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank, and Dr. Rabindra Prasad Pandey are also in the discussion list of those who will become governors.
Rashtra Bank Executive Director Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha and Dr. Gunakar Bhatta are also in the running for governor. Apart from that, Dev Kumar Dhakal, who was relieved of his duties as the Executive Director of the National Bank a few months ago, is being considered as a possible governor.
The CEOs of four commercial banks are also in the discussion list of those who will become governors. Nabil Bank CEO Gyanendra Dhungana has been preparing to become governor for some time. Apart from that, it is said that Agricultural Development Bank CEO Govinda Gurung is also looking for sources to make him the governor. Prabhu Bank CEO Ashok Sherchan and Machhapuchhre Bank CEO Santosh Koirala have also entered the race for the governor’s post.
It is said that the name of former Investment Board CEO Sushil Bhatta has been put forward in the competition list on behalf of powerful business families.
Apart from that, the names of former Finance Secretary Rameshwor Khanal and former CEO of Rastriya Banijya Bank Kiran Shrestha are also in the news. Both of them are preparing to put themselves forward as common candidates of Congress-UML and business families. Sources claim that the government is preparing to repeal the 2073 (First Amendment) Rules for the Appointment and Nomination of Officials and Members of Public Bodies affiliated with the Ministry of Finance, looking at these two characters.
Samir Khatiwada, who is currently working at the Asian Development Bank, is also said to be trying to line up for the position of Governor.
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