Federalism in motion: Province 3 assembly meets

Published On: February 2, 2018 07:29 AM NPT By: RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL AND ASHOK SUJAN SHRESTHA

Sets Feb 10 for speaker poll

HETAUDA, Feb 2: The first meeting of the provincial assembly of Province 3 held in Hetauda on Thursday has set February 10 as the date for the election of the assembly speaker.

Seniormost member of the assembly Dormani Paudel initiated the first meeting of the assembly at the Central Regional Education Directorate Hall here, reading out a letter from Governor Anuradha Koirala. Province 3 is the first among the seven newly carved-out provinces to hold its provincial assembly.

Following an address by representatives of the eight political parties in the provincial assembly, the meeting unanimously endorsed a proposal by senior member Paudel to hold the speaker's election next Saturday. Likewise, the meeting unanimously endorsed the working procedure of the assembly.

Later on Thursday, the Secretariat of the provincial assembly published the election schedule for speaker for 3 pm on February 10. According to legislature expert at the assembly secretariat Rojnath Pandey, the aspirants for speaker are asked to register their candidacy between 10 am and 11:30 am that day. After publishing the list of candidates at 1 pm, voting to elect the speaker will start from 3 pm on February 10 .

Given its majority in the provincial assembly, the UML's candidate is almost certain to become speaker. Paudel, the seniormost member, is among the aspirants. With other UML leaders also vying for the post, the party is yet to decide its candidate.

The eight political parties represent in the Province 3 assembly including UML (with 58 members in the 110-member body) followed by CPN (Maoist Center) (23 members), Nepali Congress (21), Bibeksheel Sajha Party(3), Nepal Workers Peasants Party (2) and Naya Shakti, Rastriya Prajatantra Party and RPP Democratic (1 each). There is also one independent member.

Astalaxmi Shakya of CPN-UML, Shalikram Jamarkattel from CPN (Maoist Center), Indra Bahadur Baniya from Nepali Congress, Ramesh Paudel from Bibeksheel Sajha Party, Prem Tamang from Naya Shakti Party Nepal, Surendra Gosain from Nepal Workers Peasants Party, Rita Gurung from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic) and Rita Majhi from Rastriya Prajatantra Party extended their best wishes for the success of the assembly.

All eyes on chief minister race

With the first meeting of the provincial assembly of Province 3 deciding to hold the speaker's election on February 10, all eyes are now on who will become the chief minister . Most leaders of the CPN-UML, which has secured a majority in the province, have staked claim to the post of chief minister instead of speaker.

Four leaders of the party are in the fray for chief minister , according to party sources. Former industry minister Asta Laxmi Shakya is the frontrunner in the fray. She also had the opportunity to address the first meeting of the provincial assembly on Thursday. She was elected from Kathmandu-8 B. UML influential leader Rajendra Pandey, who represents Dhading 1 A, is also vying for chief minister . Keshav Sthapit of Kathmandu 6A and Pashupati Chaulagain of Dolakha B are likewise in the fray.

“This province alone has a chance of getting a woman as chief minister. Thus my claim is natural and I have full hope,” Shakya told media after the meeting. Pandey, the other aspirant, also claimed chances of becoming chief minister while emerging from the meeting. “I request you to remain patient; I will be the single candidate for the post,” Pandey said with confidence.

“The party has decided to pick the chief minister candidate through the election and I am also filing my candidacy then,” said Chaulagain.

Paudel, who is also eyeing the post of chief minister said he is however ready to compromise if the party decides to adjust him in another major post. “I will not turn down the party's request to become speaker but my preference is to become chief minister,” said Paudel.

UML provincial assembly members said the party will finalize the candidates for chief minister and speaker immediately after the National Assembly election scheduled for February 7. The party has convened a parliamentary party meeting for February 8 to pick the chief minister and speaker candidates.