Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Bhoj Raj Pokharel has asked the government and the ruling seven-party alliance to settle all the political and security issues in order to create an atmosphere favourable for constituent assembly polls.

CEC Pokharel conveyed his concern about the political differences and security issues during a meeting with the members of the parliament’s Constitutional Assembly Election Management Monitoring Special Committee at the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday.

He emphasised that the government must resolve the issues related to Madhesis and Janajatis within three days and, at the same time, improve security situation to make sure that the polls take place on time and in a free and fair manner.

He also called upon the parties to strictly abide by the election code of conduct.

Speaker Subas Nemwang said that the parliament was ready to give all the support the EC needed for conducting timely polls. nepalnews.com mk Feb 10 08

Comedian Gopal Raj Mainali has passed away on Sunday at the age of 65 years.

Mainali had been hospitalised since over a month and had been kept in ventilator for quite sometime.

He was suffering from severe bout of pneumonia, reports say. He passed away at Nepal Medical College hospital at around 1 am.

Mainali also known as ‘Chankhe’ has acted in numerous films and tele-films.

He is survived by one son and two daughters. One of his daughters Sajja Mainali is a well-known actress in Nepali films. nepalnews.com Feb 10 08

The cabinet meeting held on Sunday morning has decided to ensure effective implementation of reservation for marginalised communities including Madhesis in all organs of state.

“The government has decided to ensure proportional participation of the deprived communities in police, army and public enterprises,” said Giriraj Man Pokharel, Minister for Health and Population.

Pokharel said the cabinet meeting discussed 51 different agenda on Sunday’s meeting as it was held after a long gap due to ill health of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

The cabinet has decided to proceed with distribution of relief and financial assistance to conflict-victims.

The cabinet also appointed Bishal Khanal as the secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). nepalnews.com sd Feb 10 08

Nepalis residing in the United Kingdom have advised the government against selling the Nepali embassy in London, reports Kantipur daily.

The government delegation which was recently there for a ‘field visit’ was told by local Nepali residents involved in various professions including non-residential Nepali organizations that the embassy building should not be sold off since it held immense historical importance and that they have their sentiments attached to it.

“The delegation has reached to the conclusion that the government should decide on whether to sell the building or not after seriously taking into consideration the suggestions [of the people] from here,” Kantipur Daily quoted Nepali ambassador to United Kingdom Murariraj Sharma as saying.

The delegation, which was there to decide on the fate of the London-based Nepali embassy, comprised secretaries and top officials of foreign and finance ministries. The delegation has already returned to Kathmandu after completing its week-long visit. nepalnews.com ag Feb 10 08

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell by 27.27 points over the week to end at 750.86 points on Thursday, the last day of stock trading.

The NEPSE index fluctuated throughout the week, dipping 70 points in the first three-days of trading only to gain 42 points in the remaining two days.

Over the past few weeks, bearish trend has reigned supreme at the stock market, which has shed almost 300 points, much to the concern of the government and investors alike.

According to the data provided by NEPSE, the total turnover was Rs 151 million, with 228,557 units of shares having changed hands this week in bourse.

Investors of development banks were the major losers this week as the banks’ indices shed a whopping 365.89 points. nepalnews.com ag Feb 10 08

The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) has decided to go for prime ministerial system after the Constituent Assembly (CA) election, reports Nepal Samacharpatra daily.

The central committee meeting of the party made such an understanding on Saturday after extensive deliberations.

At a time when Maoists have proposed their chairman Prachanda as all-powerful presidential candidate, the UML has decided to adopt a system alike the one practiced in India where prime minister is most powerful while president is only ceremonial head of state.

The UML is preparing to unveil its election manifesto next week.

The central committee meeting also decided that the prime minister will be elected by the parliament whereas the president will be elected as per the subsequent understandings.

The party also decided to present its proposal regarding division of federal units to the proposed State Restructuring Commission.

However, it has rejected the demand for ‘One Madhes, One Province.’ The party has concluded that Madhes itself is full of diversity and the demand for single province only promotes disintegration of the country.

The party’s central committee meeting will resume on Sunday to discuss the report prepared by its Terai taskforce. The meeting could end on Sunday. nepalnews.com sd Feb 10 08

Rajendra Mahato, chief of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP), has said that there is no alternative to movement in Madhes.

“The government must first provide guarantee that Madhesi people will be able to enjoy autonomy within their federal province. That will create environment conducive for Constituent Assembly election,” said Mahato.

He accused that the government does not want the election in the first place.

Election cannot be held by repeating empty commitments, he said. Mahato added that using force to hold election in Madhes will backfire.

Mahato’s NSP has already joined hands with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) led by Upendra Yadav and Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party to form a common front to spearhead what they call as decisive agitation from February 11. nepalnews.com sd Feb 10 08

The 17th central committee meeting of the CPN (UML), which was to conclude today, is set to run for one more day with two proposals remaining to be finalised.

According to standing committee member Amrit Bohara, Sunday’s session will discuss and endorse the report of a taskforce studying the Terai problem and the report on election candidacies.

The ‘Terai taskforce’ headed by Jhal Nath Khanal presented its report today.

Bohara informed that the meeting is likely to conclude Sunday evening.

Saturday’s session had passed the party’s election manifesto prepared by a drafting committee under Jhal Nath Khanal and the political report of general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.

The general secretary’s political report describes the constituent assembly polls as an opportunity to bring about transformation in the country and emphasises on the unity of the political parties. nepalnews.com mk Feb 09 08

The Nepali Congress lifted the trophy of the inter-party football championship, beating Janamorcha Nepal in the final match played at Campachour in Chitwan on Saturday.

The NC team beat the Janamorcha team 2-0. The NC had defeated CPN-UML 5-3 in the semis on Thursday while Janamorcha had sidelined CPN (Unified) by a huge margin of 11-0.

The seven ruling political parties had taken part in the friendly football tournament that had kicked off on Tuesday.

The tournament had an interesting criterion that only those over 40 years who had actively participated in the people’s movement-2 could participate in the tournament as players.

The organiser, Aam Sanchar Pratisthan, said the tournament was meant to promote harmonious relation among the seven parties even after constituent assembly election that may change their current positions. nepalnews.com mk Feb 09 08

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RJP) chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa has suggested the government to address the legitimate demands of agitating Terai groups in order to make the constituent assembly election possible.

Speaking at a programme in the capital Saturday, Thapa said the government must resolve the issues raised by Madhesi parties “within seven days” if it wanted to prepare ground for elections.

He also urged Prime Minister G.P Koirala to immediate steps in this regard.

Thapa, a former Prime Minister, also said that the people would not accept the results of the CA election if it is conducted with the backing of security forces and without the bringing armed Terai groups to the negotiating table.

There is also a need to check criminal gangs operating in Terai region, but deployment of army there would bring terrible results, he added.

Referring to speculations that the government could go for two-phase election, Thapa warned that conducting election in the hills and Terai in two different phases would practically thrust the nation into the path of disintegration. nepalnews.com mk Feb 09 08