President Dr Ram Baran Yadav administered Regmi the oath of office and secrecy as Chairman of the election government at a special function held at Shital Niwas. [break]Immediately after taking the oath, Regmi in turn administered the oath of office and secrecy to two cabinet members--Madhav Prasad Ghimire (Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Hari Prasad Neupane (Ministry of Law, Justice and Federal Affairs and Ministry of Labor and Employment).
While Ghimire is a former chief secretary with over 29 years´ experience in the Nepalese bureaucracy, Neupane had retired as secretary, last serving at the Nepal Law Commission. Sources said preparations are underway to induct eight more ministers in the cabinet formed with the sole objective of holding fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.
Photo: Chandra Shekar Karki
Vice-president Paramananda Jha, ambassadors of foreign countries, outgoing prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, top leaders of the major political parties and senior bureaucrats, among other dignitaries, were present during the oath-taking ceremony. After taking the oath of office and secrecy at Shital Niwas, Regmi paid tributes at Martyr Park at Lainchaur before heading to Singha Durbar to assume office.
Regmi pledges to hold elections at earliest
Talking to media after assuming office, Regmi said, “The main objective of this interim election government is to maintain law and order and hold a fresh election with the assistance of the political parties. I thank the political parties for placing their trust in me,” he said.
Regmi also said that the new government will strive to hold fresh elections by the stipulated date of June 21. “I will not disappoint the trust that the political parties have placed in me,” he said while asking all people and the international community to support the government in holding polls.
Photo: Chandra Shekar Karki
Chairman Regmi said that his government would fill the positions lying vacant at various constitutional bodies, and announce a date for elections after consultations with EC officials.
Cabinet decides to end state largesse
A cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar in the afternoon decided to stop providing state largesse in contravention of set criteria. “The criteria for providing donations and financial assistance is already in place. The cabinet has decided not to provide such assistance and donations in contravention of the criteria,” said Minister for Home and Foreign Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire.
Ghimire said the meeting decided to ask all the ministries to present a progress report on the work being done by their respective ministries and suggest ways to tackle problems seen in their implementation.
thanking the political parties for placing trust in them to hold the polls, the first cabinet meeting also appealed to all people for support for holding free and fair elections.
Besides holding fresh elections at the earliest, Ghimire told media that the government would make meeting the day to day needs of people, ensuring rule of law, protecting and promoting human rights and ensuring separation of powers its priorities.
Banda enforcers. (Photo: Bijay Rai)
18 fringe parties to protest CJ-led govt
A meeting of 18 fringe parties including CPN-Maoist has decided to protest againt the CJ-led government.
A joint meeting held in the capital Thurday decided to meet again Friday to unveil fresh protests against the CJ-led government, arguing that the decision was taken with the backing of ´foreign forces´. The meeting also decided to protest against the decision of the four major parties.
Earlier, the CPN-Maoist staged a protest near Shital Niwas while the swearing-in ceremony was underway at the President´s Office. The party also enforced a general strike in Kathmandu Valley from noon to 5 p.m.
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