National
Province 3 all set for first assembly meet
The stage is set for the first ever Provincial Assembly meeting in the country, a decade after the Interim Constitution of Nepal adopted federalism, formalising the implementation of the three tiers of government embraced by the Constitution of Nepal.Binod Ghimire
The stage is set for the first ever Provincial Assembly meeting in the country, a decade after the Interim Constitution of Nepal adopted federalism, formalising the implementation of the three tiers of government embraced by the Constitution of Nepal.
Province 3 will make a history on Thursday when it becomes the first among seven provinces to hold the assembly meeting. The assembly meeting will pave the way for formation of the provincial governments which will be a clear departure from the centuries-old centralised system of governance into federalism, decentralising authority to the lower level. The constitution promulgated two years ago envisioned decentralising the country in three tiers—federal, provincial and local levels of governance.
Following the call from Governor Anuradha Koirala, the meeting of the largest province in terms of representatives will convene at 1pm. Governors hold the constitutional authority to call and end sessions of provincial assemblies. Article 183 of the statute requires the first provincial assembly meeting to be held within 20 days of election results.
The Election Commission made public the final results of the assemblies on January 17, the same day the Cabinet appointed the governors and announced the temporary capitals of the seven provinces.
“We have completed every preparation for the historical meeting,” said Roj Nath Pandey acting chief of Provincial Assembly Secretariat from Province 3. The preparations, from arranging furniture, microphones, delegating spaces for different parities to setting up offices for the secretariat officials have been completed, according to officials.
Dormani Poudel, as the senior most member of the 110-member assembly, will conduct the assembly meeting on the first day which will continue unless the elections of the speaker and deputy speaker take place. Presentation of the letter to convene the first meeting by governor will be the first task of the meeting on the inaugural day.
“It will also discuss on the interim working procedure of the assembly and on the date for the election of the speaker and deputy speaker,” Pandey added. Article 182 of the constitution makes it mandatory to elect the speaker and deputy speaker within 15 days of the first Provincial Assembly meeting. The assembly will then work on the election of the chief minister to form the provincial government.
The same procedure will be followed in the six other provinces which are scheduled to have their first meeting on February 4 or 5. The first assembly house in provinces 1 and 4 will be held on February 4, while provinces 2, 5, 6 and 7 will have first house meeting on February 5.