Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government will name temporary provincial capitals and their governors within the next three days.

Inaugurating a Makar festival in Godawari of Kailali district on Sunday, Prime Minister Deuba claimed that the twin tasks were delayed in the government’s attempt to forge political consensus on the matter.

The Cabinet would announce the decisions regardless of a deal on the matter, said Deuba. He hinted that towns having enough physical infrastructure for the provincial assembly would be named the ad-hoc capitals.

One minister told the Post that the next Cabinet meeting had not been scheduled. Minister for Irrigation Sanjay Gautam said the delay to appoint governors and designate provincial capitals was due to “non-cooperation” from the left alliance.

“But my understanding is that both the Nepali Congress and the government are facing increasing pressure not to name the provincial capitals” due to demonstrations at various places demanding provincial headquarters in their areas, said Gautam.

Speaking at a function in the Capital on Sunday, CPN-UML Vice-chairman Bhim Rawal said Prime Minister Deuba should resign if he cannot take the decisions more than a month after conclusion of the federal and provincial elections.

Refuting charges of trying to prolong his tenure, PM Deuba said, “None of the parties got a clear majority in the elections. Parliament has not been formed. Whom shall I hand over power?”

“Who will become the prime minister? I’ll hand over power in a minute if the PM candidate comes up through the legal way,” he said, adding that a new government would be formed only after the National Assembly elections.

On the occasion, Deuba pledged to develop the Godawari area, a pilgrimage site for Hindus in Kailali. Godawari Development Committee Chairman Padam Raj Joshi, lawmaker Naradmuni Rana and Godawari Municipality Mayor Hari Singh Saud urged him to make a master plan for the development of Godawaridham.

(With inputs from Kailali correspondent DR Panta)