Bhattarai had then said the appointments would be completed within 15 days. But six months on nothing has happened, and even the process to appoint candidates through open competition by Constitutional Council, the body he himself heads, has come to a virtual standstill.[break]
In Bhattarai´s case, it has been a case of "easier said than done". Undaunted by such difficulties he continues to renew his promises and set new deadlines for crucial appointments in the Election Commission, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Auditor General. These bodies are without heads and members for over three years.
"On the surface, the Constitutional Council is stuck in finalizing criteria for appointment and selecting names from the roaster prepared already, but in reality, it is not so. Political interest of parties in the appointments is delaying the process," said a Constitutional Council member on condition of anonymity. He told Republica that interest of major political parties in the appointments especially at the CIAA and the Election Commission was intense.
During a meeting of the State Affairs Committee on Sunday, Bhattarai indirectly accepted the compulsion of reaching agreements among parties on the appointments. "It is the reality that we have to move ahead by forging consensus," the prime minister said. But he also made it a point to tell lawmakers that the appointments would be completed within two weeks. This is the third time Bhattarai has formally made such a pledge.
There are othes who believe people leading the government lacks "strong will" to make appointment in key positions and risk the wrath of allies whom they need to remain in power.
"The State Affairs Committee has directed five time to successive prime minister over the past two years, but I have found lack of strong will of the prime ministers in making appointments. If the prime minister really wants to fill vacancies, he can do so by wining over the opposition," said Ram Nath Dhakal, chairman of the State Affairs Committee
Dhakal further adds, "In addition, I have found each party is claiming the post of the CIAA chief commissioner, with bad intention of using the post in future. If the prime minister really wants and nominates deserving persons for the posts, decision will be easier to take in the Constitutional Council."
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