FRONT PAGERS
Monday, May 31st, 1999 / Jestha 17, 2056 B.S.

Nobody in NC wants to be speaker

The position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives has become a burden for the Nepali Congress. The prestigious post of the Speaker has become the unwanted one to the congressmen.

All the senior persons of the party are refusing to take up the prestigiuos post. Most of them want are willing to become a minister than to sit on the chair of a post which is equivalent to the Prime Minister. Many of those who were considered fit for the post, are eyeing some plum ministries.

Former Speaker Ram Chandra Poudel has also refused the post, and is looking towards the Home Ministry. It is learnt that Poudel has seriously talked to the Prime Minister and the Party President about his intention. However, other central committee members are not ready to hand over the ministry to Poudel. Another propective candidate Taranath Ranabhat is also in the race for the Home Minister. Even some congressmen have started saying that Ranabhat is fit to be the home minister.

Chiranjibi Wagle, another powerful leader is also seeking the Home Ministry. Wagle has repeated told Bhattarai if he does not become home ministry when Bhattarai is the prime minister, then when will his turn come.

Even Party president Girija Prasad Koirala is stopping his close ones such as Sushil Koirala and Chakra Prasad Bastola from becoming the speaker.

So, with nobody wanting the post, there is possibility that it could come to Mahant Thakur, who can not even speak Nepali well.

While the post of Speaker has become a burden to the congressmen, almost all of them are fighting for plum ministries.

Apart from the above ones, others like Govinda Raj Joshi, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Bijaya Gachhedhar are also staking their claim for the Home Ministry.

Similarly, the fighting has also started for the Finance Ministry.

Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat is claiming the Ministry saying he has the experience, international relations and capability. Koirala, however, wants Mahesh Acharya for the post. Amidst this fighting, according to a Congress source, it is not impossible if another economist, Dr. Gangadhar Lamsal gets away with the post.

(Chalphal, May 30, Sunday)

ML's evaluation of election

The central committee meeting of the CPN-ML is starting today (Sunday). The party’s politburo committee meeting which started four days back has discussed on the election result and the party’s future programmes.

It is said the politburo also discussed on who should take the responsibility of the party’s humilitating defeat of the party in the election. At the meeting, party’s general secretary Bamdev Gautam submitted his report blaming the party’s organisational weakness for the defeat. It is also said another leader of the party C.P. Mainali refused to accept Gautam’s finding and demanded the General Secretary’s resignation on moral grounds.

However, the ML is proud of remaining a national party even if it failed to win any seat.

The ML has also consented that the voters may have rejected the party because it gave the impression that it is close to the Maoists. So, the party will not say anything in public that it is close to the Maoists.

The ML will hold the party workers conference in Ashad to refrain its workers from going back to the UML.

(Janmabhoomi, May 29, Saturday)

Maoists target Bhattarai, Koirala

The Maoists are busy in their post-election strategies. They have also drawn up some dangerous plans against the NC government.

Sources say their fight now will be directed exclusively against the Nepali Congress.They have even made plans to assassinate the two top leaders, K.P. Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala of the Congress.

According to a circular sent to the five regional commanders, the Maoists have even envisaged to use the suicide bombers to do away with the two leaders. Police say the Maoists have even assigned six terrorists in Kathmandu and Patan for the purpose. Similarly, police also suspects the Maoists are planning to kill other NC persons like Lila Koirala, Gopalji Jung Shah and Smriti Narayan Chaudhary. The Home Ministry has also sent the anti-terrorist division of the police a list of six Moaists saying that they were involved in severe crimes.

The Maoists have also selected its commander and deputy commander in all the five development regions to fight against the government.

The Maoists had sent their cadres for trainings in Harayana and and Govindagarh of India. It is said they have returned and have started their activities. According to the Interpol section ofthe police has also asked the Indian police to arrest those terrorists and hand them over.

Meanwhile the police have been kept on alert after the Maoists’ fraternal organisation in India began sending weapons in pieces through border posts in Birgunj an Bhairahawa.

The police is also planning to take extra security measures for Prime Minister and in Singha durbar.

According to a Maoist source in Kathmandu, the Maoists are taking these steps in retaliation against Bhattarai’s statement that the Maoists activities are criminal activites and they will be dealt by using police and the army.

(Himalaya Times, May 27, Thursday)

 Sudden rise in the price of footstuff

Taking advantage of the transition period of the general election and the formation of the new government, the businesspeople in the capital has suddenly increased the price of the foodstuff. According to an under secretary at the Ministry of Supplies the businessmen create artificial shortage if they feel the supply is low.

According to a survey of the Nepal Rastra Bank, the wholesale price of essential goods including foodstuff, has increased by 6 to 12 per cent. But this newspaper has found that the the market price has increased by 25 to 40 per cent.

But the Ministry of Agriculture says the production of paddy this year has increased by 1.89 per cent to 3.71 million metric tonnes. The yield of rice from paddy is only 53 per cent. This figure is less if compared with the increase in the population, which is about 2.6 per cent.

However, importers here say Nepals's good quality rice is exported outside at a cheaper rate, and inferior rice is imported into the country at a higher price. This time Nepalese rice were exported to Bangladesh. This had continued even after the govenment put a restriction on the export of rice.

It is estimated that about 50,000 metric tonnes of rice were exported to Bangladesh this year. Businesspeople say this may have caused the shortage of rice in the market. But the Rastra Bank’s figures do not comply with this. The bank has found that the price has risen only in Kathmandu.

The Nepal Food Corporation also says it has enough stock of rice.

(Himalaya Times, May 28, Friday)

Conflict in NC before formation of govt.

Conflict within has started in the Nepali Congress. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, the newly elected Prime Minister has been saying that he should be allowed to work on his own decision. On the other hand, NC President and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has been saying that Bhattarai should work as told by Koirala.

Meanwhile, Koirala and Bhattarai are holding discussions on who should be included in the future cabinet. Bhattarai wants to include people close to him, and Koirala also wants more of his men in the cabinet.

The main issue between two leaders is in the appointment of the Deputy Prime Minister. Bhattarai wants Ram Chandra Poudel whereas Koirala wants Sushil Koirala.

(Yojana, Thursday, May 27)

Tug of war for leadership in UML

A tug of war started within Nepal Communist Party (UML). UML Secretary General Madhav Kumar Nepal wants to be opposition leader. But another influential leader of UML Khadga Oli was also a strong candidate for the post of opposition leader. At the recent meeting of the party's central committee Oli has raised the issue of ‘one man one post’ from stopping Nepal from being opposition party leader.

However, the party’s central committee last week chose Nepal as the party’s leader in the parliament.

(Yojana, Thursday, May 27)

Ambassador’s Intervention

The secret dealing between the pro-Indian NC leaders and K. P. Oli, the pro-Indian UML leader got an unexpected result of the general election. In condition to defeating ML candidates, Nepalic Congress leaders sacrificed its own candidates in many constituencies.

UML leader K.P. Oli also did the same. Congress people voted for Bidya Bhandari of UML, defeating their candidate Ambika Basnet in Kathmandu’s No. 2 constitution. In return UML people voted for Tirtha Ram Dangol instead of Krishna Gopal Shrestha in Kathmandu’s constituency no. 7.

(Jana Dharana, Thursday, May 27)

Loadshedding increases by seven fold

On the very day of his appointment as Minister for Water Resources, Pradeep Nepal of the UML had announced the termination of loadshedding. As he is going out, his has burdened the people in more darkness.

Before his appointment as Minister of Water Resources, there was loadshedding for only two and half hours in a week. As he became minister, he reduced it to once in two weeks by increasing production using reserve water in Kulekhani. As the water level went down, the production of election is all but stopped.

Now, the people are facing a loadshedding of two and half hours every day.

(Jana Dharana, Thursday, May 27)

New government ready to face challenges

Nepal people have a lot of expectations from Krishna Prasad Bhattarai the newly elected prime minister.

About half a dozen governments formed after the reinstatement of the democracy in the country were not able to function properly. So the Nepali Congress has presented Bhattarai as its would-be prime minister in the general election. People also voted for it. If Nepali Congress became unable to cash in on the present opportunity, it will be pushed back and almost relegated from the politics of the country. So, Congress leaders have been doing serious home work in forming cabinet and government’s future programmes.

(Tarun Sandesh, Thursday, May 27)

Who will be ministers?

Koirala and Bhattarai are busy doing home work to form a small, but smart cabinet. The names which are under consideration to be included in the cabinet are: Sushil Koirala, Chakra Banstola, Mahesh Acharya, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Narendra Bikram Nembang, Rajendra Kharel, Dr. Gangadhar Lamsal, P.L. Sing, Taranath Ranabhat, Palten Gurung, Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Baladev Majagaiya, Bhakta Bahadur Balayar, Tarinidatta Chataut, Dilli Ram Sharma Pokharel, Formullah Mansur, Chitralekha Yadav, Chiranjivi Wagle, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Bijaya Gachchhadar, Govinda Raj Joshi, Govinda Bahadur Shaha and Hom Nath Dahal.

(Tarun Sandesh, Thursday, May 27)

Why Shailaja lost?

Nepali Congress leader Shailaja Acharya lost the election. She had won in the last two general elections. But, this time, she was badly defeated. She was involved in politics since her childhood. But after the reinstatement of democracy in the country, she failed to maintain her image. She could not show her worth during the single party government of Nepali Congress. Later, she was appointed as chairperson of Sukumbasi Samasya Samadhan Aayog. There too, she could not to show her mettle.

She was also appointed the party’s vice-president. There too, she failed. Instead of winning over the partymen’sconfidence, she engaged herself more in demoralising her contemporaries in the party.

As deputy prime minister too she got into controversy.

(Naya Bikalpa, Thursday, May 27)

Bhutanese problems to be solved!

Will the Bhutanese refugees living in the camps in Nepal for almost a decade ever go back to their country. Bhutan Gorkha Liberation Front says the solution is near.The Front is working for repatriation of Bhutanese refugees and it has also been said that Bhutanese government is ready to take back the Bhutanese people, who are the members of the Front. Front President D.B. Rana and members Inan Rai and Tara Mukarung are presently in Nepal and are busy in their campaign to increase their members.

However, some people say that it is only a ploy to push the problem into further away.

(Khabarkagaj, Thursday, May 27)

Who are new cabinet members?

Girija Prasad Koirala and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai have principally agreed on forming the cabinet of 18 to 22 members.

The new cabinet will include Krisha Prasad Bhattarai as Prime Minister and Minister for Defense, Royal palace and Foreign Affairs. Similarly, Ram Chandra Poudel will be Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development and Agriculture.

Others included in the government are Chirinjivi Wagle (Supply and Land Reforms), Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat (Finance), Govinda Raj Joshi (Home), Narendra Bikram Nembang (Works and Transport), Housing and Physical Planning), Mahesh Acharya (Communication), Dr. Ram Baran Yadav (Health), Tarinidutta Chataut (Parliamentary Affairs, General Administration), Surendra Prasad Chaudhary (Commerce), Chakra Banstola (Water Resources), Bal Bahadur KC (Industry), Purna Bahadur Khadka (Youth, Sports and Culture), Baldev Sharma Majgaiya (Education), P.L. Singh (Population and Environment), Aftab Aalam (Labour and Tourism), Mrs. Kamala Pant (State Minister for Women and Social Welfare), Surya Pradha (State Ministr), Arjun Joshi (State Minister).

(Janajyoti, Thursday, May 27)

People’s punishment against Khovari

Khovari Raya, the former MP, who was always in news for wrong reasons is again in the news. However this time it is the people who gave him the punishment for raping a married woman in his home district.

Raya had taken a woman on the pretext of finding her buffalo and had raped her. But he was given a different, rather a traditional punishment.

He was fined Rs. 15,000, shaved his head, blackened his face and was taken on a donkey ride around the market. People who saw Raya commented that it was a punishment befitting his character.

While he was the MP, Raya created a mayhem by firing a disco. He was also in the news for several times for wine and women. Recently, he was also caught with guns and bullets at Kathmandu's check-post, going to his district for the election. Raya recently lost the election. Meanwhile Raya has been arrested by police. Police says it will also take legal action against him for the rape.

(Janmabhoomi, May 29,Saturday)

Ninety hours of uncertainty

From the thirteenth of May there has been no government in our country. Even though Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has been appointed the PM, he was not been sworn in officially. The official oath taking is going to be held tomorrow (Monday). Due to this delay, the country has been without a government for the past 90 hours.

Before this, when Lokendra Bahadur Chand was elected the PM, the same situation was there. Superstitious Chand, waiting for the right day and the right time, had ensured that Nepal function without a government for four days. Same with Girija Prasad Koirala when he was chosen the PM. The country was without a government for three days. So during this period of time who is going to have the control over the administration of the country, and who is going to take the responsibilities of the things that will occur during those days? These are all unknown.

(Deshanter, Sunday, May 29)

Who will be NC ministers?

Though the names of the new ministers in the cabinet will be formally decided in the meeting between the top two leaders, Girija Prasad Koirala and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, today (Sunday), yet talks are rife within the Nepali Congress on the possible ministers.

It is reported that both Sushil Koirala and Ram Chandra Poudel have shown their interest to become the deputy prime ministers.

Both have high probability to be included in the new government. But both will either be deputy prime ministers or they will be only ministers. This is because though both Koirala and Poudel are qualified to be the deputy prime minister, the situation is not such that one can be the deputy prime minister and the other remains only as minister.

If both become ministers there is a possibility that Koirala will be given the foreign portfolio and Poudel will be made home minister.Meanwhile, as they were involved in successful holding the general election, it is almost sure that minister for youths, sports and culture, Purna Bahadur Khadka and minister for communications, Jaya Prakash Anand will retain their old portfolios.

If Poudel is made the home minister, Govinda Raj Joshi will be given the education ministry. According to high level sources in the Nepali Congress Chiranjibi Wagle, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Bijaya Kumar Gachhedhar and Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat will not be included in the government, but they will be given 'special' responsibilities in the party.

Other possible ministers are: Taranath Ranabhat (Agriculture), Chakra Prasad Bastola (Water Resources), Mahesh Acarya (Finance), Tarini Dutta Chataut(Land Reforms),Baldev Sharma Majgainya (Education), Dr. Ram Baran Yadav (Health), Bal Bahadur K.C. (Tourism and Civil Aviation), P.L. Singh (Local Development), Rajendra Kharel ( Parliamenary Affairs), Benup Raj Prasai (Population and Environment), Bhakta Bahadur Balayar (Minister of State for industry) and Chitralekha Yadav (Women and Social Development).

(Deshatar, May 30, Sunday)