New PM Assumes Office

Newly elected Prime Minister Sushil Koiralal assumed his office at Singha Durbar on February 11 after taking the oath of office and secrecy from President Dr Ram Baran Yadav amid a special function at the President’s office in Sheetal Niwas on the same day. Nepali Congress (NC) President Koirala was elected the prime minister by Parliament on February 10 after CPN-UML decided to support him in the prime ministerial voting. Koirala got 405 votes while 148 lawmakers, including those from the UCPN (Maoist), voted against him. After being sworn in, PM Koirala administered the oath of office and secrecy to NC leader Ram Saran Mahat who is yet to be assigned a ministerial portfolio. Meanwhile, the UML decided to boycott Koirala’s swearing-in ceremony and stay out of the government “because the home ministry was not given to the party as agreed earlier.” UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal were, however, present in the swearing-in ceremony as former prime ministers. 

 

Regmi Resigns as CJ

Former chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi resigned from the post of Chief Justice on February 11. In his valedictory address to the nation made on the same, Regmi said that he had already submitted his resignation letter to President Ram Baran Yadav. The bureaucratic government under Regmi formed in March last year was automatically dissolved with the election of NC President Sushil Koirala as the new prime minister. “No law can stop me from returning to the judiciary, but I listened to my inner soul and decided to resign,” Regmi said. Regmi also said he felt proud and satisfied to hand over the responsibility to an elected government. “I will be at peace if the new constitution is drafted within a year,” he said.

 

‘UML to join govt if consensus forged’

Former prime minister and senior leader of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the party will not join the government without its respectable participation. Nepal added that the party will join the government if Nepali Congress forges consensus with understanding on the agreed points. Speaking at a press meet in Kaski on February 12, Nepal said no one should ignore deals that have been inked. However, Nepal clarified that the party will not create hindrances in the constitution drafting process despite being an opposition party. “UML will move ahead prioritising constitution drafting,” Nepal said.

 

‘New Statute in One Year Doubtful’

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed doubt over the promulgation of the new constitution within a year as committed by the major political parties. Speaking at a function organized to mark the 19th Anniversary of the ‘People’s War Day’ in the Capital on Thursday, Dahal said the possibility of promulgating the new constitution has been put into shadow mainly due to the ongoing dispute of two largest parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML. Stating that NC and UML are fighting over one Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dahal doubted their commitment to promulgate the new statute in one year. On the occasion, he also underscored the need to form a front of pro-federalism political parties. “Such a front has to be established inside the Constituent Assembly and outside, too,” he said, adding that the revolutionary forces have to unite to establish the agenda of federalism.