Nepal Political Economic News In Brief (5-11 August 2013)

Koirala to Meet Indian President, PM 

Nepali Congress (NC) president Sushil Koirala is scheduled to meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress (I) president and ruling United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, among other leaders, during his trip to India this week. Likewise, he will visit Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where he will meet the Chief Minister of these Indian states. Koirala is formally visiting India upon the invitation of Indian PM for the first time after being elected as the president of the NC. General Secretary duo- Prakashman Singh and Krishna Prashad Sitaula- and Koirala’s personal aide Laxman Dhakal are accompanying him. 

 

‘Regmi should resign from CJ post’ 

Central Working Committee Member Dr Sekhar Koirala has demanded that the Chairman of the Interim Election Council, Khil Raj Regmi, resign from the post of Chief Justice (CJ). Addressing a programme in Kathmandu last Monday, Dr Koirala claimed that the agitating parties would come to dialogue if Chairman Regmi quits the CJ post. Dr Koirala holds the view that the election will not be possible until the four major political forces, the agitating parties, the government and the international forces come to a common point. 

 

NC President Sees No Alternative to Elections 

Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala said that the election was an unconditional alternative for resolving the ongoing political crisis. Speaking at a programme in Nepalgunj on Wednesday, he urged all parties to participate in the upcoming elections to the Constituent Assembly. Similarly, he also directed his party ranks and file to be mobilised in the preparation of the November 19 election. 

 

‘Slim chances of CPN-Maoist participating in the polls’ 

UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayankaji Shrestha said the chances of the CPN-Maoist party participating in the Constituent Assembly poll process are very slim. Speaking at a programme in the Capital on Wednesday, Shrestha claimed that the election for November 19 would not be cancelled or postponed even if the CPN-Maoist party did not come aboard for election. “Though there is a very low chance of the agitating parties joining the election process, we wouldn’t stop trying to bring them to it,” he said.

 

Dahal Calls President 

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has urged the UCPN (Maoist) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal to facilitate on making the upcoming election successful by taking all parties into confidence. President Dr Yadav made such request at a meeting at his own official residence Shital Niwas with Dahal on Thursday. Personal Aide of Dahal, Shiva Khakurel, informed that the President expressed his concern about the progress on bringing the agitating parties to the election process. In response to the President’s concern, Dahal apprised him that formal and informal talks with the dissident parties were underway. 

 

Information Centers to Be Established 

In a bid to provide information to the people about security during the election, Armed Police Force (APF) is establishing its Information Centers. According to the IGP of APF, Kosh Raj Wanta, information centers will be established at all five regional units of the APF to provide information about the election and security to the people in fast, easy and simple way.