December 04, 2002
KATHMANDU: The meeting of four committees under the National Assembly, the permanent house in the bicameral parliament started Wednesday at 1 PM after a six-month break at a time when the seats to the 205 member House of Representatives are vacant following the dissolution of parliament on May 22 and the postponement of the November elections.
Deuba who headed the Nepali Congress government prior to his dismissal by King Gyanendra on October 4 had dissolved the lower house of parliament following differences on extending the emergency for the third time within the ruling NC.
The King after the sacking of the Deuba government citing incompetence formed a nine-member cabinet, which was later expanded by another thirteen members after the political parties failed to agree on a name of the next Prime Minister.
A debate ensued whether the King or the Chand government holds executive powers. The King has asked successor Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand to conduct elections soonest to restore normalcy.
The parties represented in the Assembly have asked Chand to convene a full session of the upper chamber which can act on behalf of the dissolved lower house. The Assembly is dominated by the CPN-UML.
Elections dates for the dissolved parliament are elusive. Ministers of the Chand government have said publicly the vote will be conducted the day parties suggest election dates as the two largest national parties, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, question the legality of the Chand government which says it is ready to hold talks with Maoists to restore peace needed to conduct the poll.
The two prominent national parties have threatened a national stir against the October Royal move while ignoring Chand’s suggestion to set firm dates for elections for the dissolved parliament.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal reiterated Tuesday his party’s readiness to hold talks to restore peace in the kingdom.
Meanwhile, uncertainty prevails in educational institutions as Maoist student activists threatened to close educational institutions in Kathmandu Valley indefinitely from next week pressing 13 demands.
A student body affiliated with the rebels said this week it was ready to negotiate a settlement with the government. Management of several schools said Wednesday Maoist student representatives visited schools in the Valley explaining their demands ahead of the threatened strike.