KATHMANDU, August 30: The government has decided to hold elections for federal parliament and provincial assemblies in two phases – on November 26 and December 7.

A cabinet meeting held on Wednesday took the decision to this effect based on the recommendations received from the Election Commission, said a minister. Earlier, the government had announced to hold both the elections on November 7.

Briefing the media about the meeting decisions, Minister for Information and Communications, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, said, "It has not been decided yet the complete schedule for the elections when the report of the Electoral Constituency Delimitation Commission is awaited. But bearing in mind the EC's suggestions, the election to be held in the second phase will be conducted on December 7." The remaining issues relating to the province including its capital city will be finalized later on the basis of political consensus, he added.

Minister Basnet, who is also Spokesperson of the government, said, "The meeting has also decided to set up National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission for which the Constitutional Council will make the recommendation." 

It was also decided at the meeting to accept loan grant assistance worth more than Rs 15 billion from the Asian Development for customs sector reform and modernization. 

The discussion was held on scrapping the vacancies for the post of Senior Superintendents of Police (SSP) and creating a new vacancy for Deputy Inspector General of Police, according to Minister Basnet. 

Similarly, decisions made in the meeting include promotion of Brigadier General of Nepal Army, Rajendra Karki, to the post of Major General. 

Likewise, Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reform, Krishna Raj Devkota, has been transferred to the Ministry of Supply. Shambhu Koirala will be transferred to the Ministry of Land Reform, Krishna Raj GC to Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation and Maheshwor Neupane to Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, according to the cabinet meeting. RSS

 
• minister for information and communications
 
• mohan bahadur basnet