National
Oli hints at replacing governors
A day after the government appointed provincial chiefs, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who is tipped to be the next prime minister, has hinted that the new administration could change them.A day after the government appointed provincial chiefs, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, who is tipped to be the next prime minister, has hinted that the new administration could change them.
On his return from a weeklong Bangkok visit for regular health check-up, former PM Oli told reporters at the Tribhuvan International Airport that the left alliance of the UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre) does not agree on the appointees and the places designated as provincial centres.
“When we urged the government earlier to select provincial chiefs and centres in consensus, they refused. Then we asked them to do so without agreeing to the names and places,” Oli said, adding that the new government would take “appropriate” decisions on the matter.
Oli, however, changed his stance of the provincial assembly members not taking their oath from the chiefs appointed by the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government. The UML chief clarified that his earlier statement should be seen in light of the government forwarding to the President an ordinance with a disputed National Assembly electoral system.
“Since these appointments are not made by the elected government, it’s not mandatory for the new government to follow the decisions,” said Oli.
On the UML-Maoist Centre merger, Oli said there were no differences between the two parties on leadership and the guiding principle. The party unification process, stalled by his absence, would now gain momentum.
Maoist Centre Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, addressing an interaction in the Capital on Thursday, also hinted at replacing the provincial chiefs appointed by the Deuba government on Wednesday.
“The new government can have a different opinion on the provincial chiefs appointed by the incumbent,” Bhusal said, adding, however, that the decision has cleared the way for forming a new government.
Oli appealed to the people not to protest against the announcement of provincial centres as the provincial assemblies retain the right to declare the capitals.