Alive News

Chairperson of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the incumbent government has unveiled the budget, which will gradually bring the national economy in balance.

Speaking at a news conference organized by Press Chautari Nepal and Press Center, Chitwan, here Tuesday, Dahal, who was elected as a lawmaker from Chitwan Constituency no 3, said that the budget has also addressed most of the issues mentioned in the party’s manifesto.

He further said that the incumbent government has been bringing various people-oriented plans.

The CPN Chairman said that discussion was underway to bring Rastriya Janata Party (RJP) on board the incumbent government.

He said although the regulations is silent over the issue of lawmakers charged with crime, the parties have agreed to include the word ‘suspend’ in the Act.

Dahal clarified that the government would take stern action against the contractors failing to complete the works on time. He added that executive president was not the agenda of the present time, saying it was the time of good governance, development and prosperity.

Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Chairman Upendra Yadav has called the agreement with CPN to amend the constitution a political achievement.

“This is a great change for the country,” Yadav told Setopati after signing the two-point agreement with CPN Chairman duo KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Monday. “Two chairmen of the ruling party including the PM have signed an agreement to seek solution to the problem facing the country by amending the constitution. This is an achievement.”

Yadav said the ministries that the party will get is yet to be decided. “We will discuss on the issue of ministries,” he said.

FSFN had taken internal decision to join the government on March 6 but was yet to join the government.

The first point of the agreement states that the demands and agendas raised by the FSFN through agitation will be addressed by amending the constitution through mutual consensus on the basis of interest of the country and people. It also mentions that the works that the government can address can be done through the government’s policies.
The second point states that FSFN will join the government on the basis of agreement.

Former speakers and CPN leaders Subas Chandra Nembang and Onsari Gharti Magar have said there should be one-third female representation in the central committee of CPN.

Gharti Magar said the party should not violate the law drafted by the lawmakers including those from CPN. “There is legal provision requiring 33 percent female representation in the central committee during party registration.

Nobody, including the party, is above the law,” she told Setopati. “Women may not oppose violation of the provision. But the Election Commission (EC) must get it implemented.”

Prime Minister (PM) and CPN Chairman KP Sharma Oli on Thursday had instructed the central members to not raise the issue of one-third female representation in the central committee under the influence of NGOs. Oli had also instructed them to not talk annoyingly about the issue.

“He is our leader. We utter whatever he teaches. He may well have taught us to talk annoyingly,” she sarcastically responded to Oli’s comments.

Another former speaker Nembang also said he is for adequate female representation and claimed that the party is currently discussing the issue.

Nembang, however, refused to respond to PM Oli’s comments. “I cannot publicly speak on the comments of chairman. You can’t even ask,” he said.

Article 15(4) of the Act about Political Parties requires one-third female representation in party committees at all levels. But there are only 77 women in the 441-strong central committee of CPN now which is just over 17 percent.
Central member Binda Pandey was the first to raise the issue. There was widespread condemnation of under-representation of women in the central committee of CPN leading to the instruction of PM Oli.

Pandey opined that voices should be strongly raised for female participation instead of responding to PM Oli’s comments.

She also expressed hope that the leadership will take corrective measures as questions have been raised at the start of registration process. She added that the party should not be registered if the leaders do not take corrective measures to ensure one-third representation.

“There are only men in the core team for selection of central members. They are, therefore, not sensitive to the issue of one-third female representation. We cannot negotiate inside the party. We will, therefore, put pressure by speaking publicly like now,” she added. “The EC should not register the party without one-third female representation even if the leaders don’t correct. We will talk annoyingly otherwise.”

CPN, meanwhile, has found a way to get the party registered without one-third female representation, according to a leader.

The EC had registered parties that contested the recent elections on the condition that they will ensure one-third female representation after their respective general convention.

The election was announced suddenly, and there was no way the parties could hold their general convention before the election to ensure one-third female representation.

The leader revealed that the party has reached a conclusion that it can be registered on the basis of that precedence with a pledge to ensure one-third female representation after the general convention of the unified party.

Lawmakers of CPN (Maoist Center) have urged Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to discuss about the upcoming budget with Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli.

Reminding that the two parties had brought a single manifesto for the general election, they stated that their suggestions should also be incorporated in the budget.

Chief whip of the party Dev Gurung said the parliamentary party meeting has decided to advise the government to bring policies and programs based on the joint election manifesto.

The lawmakers protested claiming UML was trying to bring the budget on its own, according to a Maoist lawmaker present in the meeting.

Dahal left the meeting saying he will discuss with the PM even as the lawmakers were raising questions about the budget.

Maoist ministers during the meeting briefed about the formulation of budget of ministries. They also asked the lawmakers to send written suggestions.

“The lawmakers asked if the projects will be selected as per their aspirations,” Maoist Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said. “Chairman said there has been no discussion on budget until now and assured that he will discuss the issue.”

The Maoist lawmakers also stated that constituency development fund is necessary.

Maoist lawmaker Satya Pahadi said the budget should be distributed on the basis of social justice. “There were views for bringing the budget focusing on the federal structure.”