Nepal Communist Party (NCP) is buzzing with activity as the selection of chairpersons for thematic panels gathers momentum.

Selecting candidates for thematic committees under Federal Parliament was a contentious issue that caused the delay.

The 16 committees were formed only five months after the Federal Parliament started its business because of the dispute between the ruling and opposition parties over leadership.

The main opposition Nepali Congress demands leadership posts in at least four mini parliaments while ruling parties—NCP and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal- that have two-third majority agree to only one position.

The Congress is most likely to get chairman’s post for Public Accounts Committee (PAC). It is a parliamentary practice worldwide to award leadership of PAC to the opposition.

NCP chief whip Dev Gurung told the Post that intra-party talks have begun on candidates. “We have begun consultation though the respective committees will take final decisions,” he said.

Ruling parties are favour selecting consensus candidates; if not, voting would decide.

The ruling parties have majority in all the committees each of which have 25-members on an average.

A source said it is likely that NC leader Minendra Rijal, who is active in the House of Representatives in grilling the government, would get PAC post.

The NCP leader Yogesh Bhattarai is likely be the chairman of Parliamentary Hearing Committee that is in media headlines after rejecting recommendation of Deepak Raj Joshee for the post of Chief Justice.

Chair of the House Committee receives pay and perks on par with state ministers. The NCP is considering Ghanshyam Bhusal for Finance Committee and Surendra Kumar Karki (Ram Karki) or Narad Muni Rana for International Relations Committee. Karki used to be coordinator of International Relations Department of then CPN (Maoist Centre).

One among Binda Pandey, Ram Bir Manandhar and Devendra Poudel could be chair of Industry, Commerce and Labour and Consumer Rights Committee. Krishna Bhakta Pokharel is certain to lead Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee. Pokharel who has good understanding on law was also considered for Ministry of Law and Justice after Sher Bahadur Tamang quit following controversies.

Observer say Hari Bol Gajurel and Purna Kumari Subedi are strong contenders for Agriculture and Cooperatives Committee while Amrita Thapa is likely to get leadership of Parliamentary Committee on Women and Social. Either Khag Raj Adhikari or Hit Bahadur Tamang could be the chair of Education and Health Committee. Pampha Bhusal or Krishna Gopal Shrestha are the candidates for State Affairs Committee which is another powerful committee after the PAC.