Election publicity materials removed

 

Campaign materials used against the election code of conduct have been removed from various places. The materials were put up in the lead up to the upcoming May 13 local level elections.

The campaign materials have been removed as per the decision of the District Election Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee, said Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Police Office, Banke, Madhusudan Neupane. Digital board, flex board, flags and banners in Tribhuvanchowk, Sadarline, Bageshwori Temple and other areas of Nepalgunj have been removed by the police. Chief Election Officer of the Office of the Chief Returning Officer, Nepalgunj, Khadananda Tiwari said that the Office has been notifying the parties and candidates to stop the activities against the election code of conduct in the district. Meanwhile, all the preparations for the nomination of candidacy for the local level election in Banke have been completed. Chief of the District Election Office, Banke, Rama Pant said that all the materials required for the nominations have reached the office of the Election Officer.

NC's resolution: Strong local government, prosperous villages

 

The Nepali Congress has unveiled its local level election manifesto giving the name, 'NC's Resolution'. It was made public amidst a programme in the party central office on Sunday.

The NC has showed yearning to lead in all local levels to forward the campaign of prosperous Nepal. Sharing information about the election manifesto, election manifesto preparation committee coordinator and General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa argued democracy is strengthened when the local levels are made robust. The NC had established a separate ministry to look after local autonomous government after the 2007BS revolution, he reminded, adding, "Following the first general election, 2016BS, the BP Koirala-led government had set up a ministry of local autonomous government, which, he argued, paved a foundation for autonomy of local government. According to him, NC is clear that inclusive and participatory system fostered by robust local governments can pave a way for national prosperity. Local government can also foster unity in diversity, he added. For strengthening democracy and federal system, the federal government and provinces need to act in coordination and cooperation with local levels, the manifesto emphasized. The NC had got victory in 271 local levels in 2074 elections. In the manifesto, the NC has blamed the federal government led by Communist Party of Nepal that it denied capacity building of local levels and failed to foster coordination and cooperation. NC General Secretary Thapa further said Nepali leaders should admit that no noticeable progress was made in terms of institutionalizing federalism by solving the problems facing the local levels. Despite adversity, local levels have made and enforced various laws by exercising the rights provided by the constitution.

Education Minister seeks more budget for education sector

Minister for Education, Science and Technology Devendra Paudel urged the Ministry of Finance to increase budget in the education sector.

At a discussion organized here Sunday, Minister Paudel urged the Ministry of Finance to be generous towards budget allocation in the education sector. Minister Paudel also shared that preparation was ongoing to operate medical colleges in all seven provinces and demanded adequate budget for the same. According to him, new programmes were proposed as establishment of IT and science lab in all public schools, development of physical infrastructures in 5,000 schools, facilitation for teaching-learning activities for students and teachers, additional quotas for teachers of English, mathematics and science subjects, and extension of mid-day snacks to students up to Grade 8, among others. The Minister also demanded additional budget for building UNESCO villages, scholarship for medical students and feasibility study for setting up multidisciplinary research centre, among others.  

In response, Minister for Finance Janardan Sharma pledged to consider Minister Paudel's request and indicated towards possibility of increase in budget for education sector in the upcoming fiscal year. He also suggested Minister Paudel to mull new plans and programmes in the areas of digital library, IT colleges, and schools, medical universities and IT universities among others. 

Candidates finalized in Dang

 

The major political parties have finalized the names of candidates for the upcoming May 13 local elections in both the sub-metropolitan cities of the district.

Central member of Nepali Congress Gehendra Giri and CPN (Unified Socialist) Dang leader Jog Bahadur Rana have become candidates for the post of Mayor and deputy Mayor of Tulsipur sub-metropolitan representing the ruling alliance. Similarly, the CPN (UML) has nominated the outgoing district chairperson Tikaram Khadka as the candidate for the post of Mayor and Saini Chaudhary as the deputy mayor. In Ghorahi sub-metropolitan city, the ruling alliance has decided to nominate Hemraj Sharma of the UCPN (Maoist) for the post of mayor and Bhup Bahadur Dangi for the post of deputy mayor. The main opposition UML has fielded the incumbent mayor Narulal Chaudhary and nominated Huma DC for the post of deputy mayor.

Social organizations important in social service: Vice President Pun

 

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said that the role of social organizations is important in the field of social service.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Role of Social Organizations in Building a Prosperous Nepal' organized by Focus Nepal on the occasion of Democracy Day on Saturday, he said that social organizations have an important role in serving the society. "It takes a big heart to engage in social service," he said while adding that the role played by social organizations was important for the establishment of democracy in the country. Vice-president Pun also lauded the work of social organizations to spread awareness in the remote areas where the government has not been able to reach. Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Youth and Sports Maheshwar Jung Gahatraj described the role played by social organizations in the country as that of organized citizens. He also urged the citizens to cast their votes consciously and responsibly as this is the year of elections. Leader of the Nepali Congress and Chair of the Community Service Center Tundal Devi, Ram Prasad Neupane, Chair of Focus Nepal, Ram Chandra Pokhrel, described the importance of social organizations in bridging the gap between people and the government.

local polls candidates: new faces in Itahari, experienced ones in Dharan

 

As Nepal gears up for the local polls slated for May 13, CPN (UML) has finalized its candidates for the two Sub-Metropolitan Cities of Province 1.

The five-party ruling alliance has not yet finalied names of mayoral and deputy mayor candidates for these two sub-metropolitan cities of the province. In Itahari, UML has picked incumbent Itahari UML chair Yam Subba as mayoral candidate. For deputy mayoral candidacy, UML has picked Sangita Chaudhary. An indigenous inhabitant of Itahari, Chaudhary is incumbent joint-secretary at All Nepal Women's Association (ANWA) Itahari chapter. ANWA is UML's sister organization for women. Both Subba and Chaudhary are new faces for local levels. They have not worked in any local level positions before. Likewise in Dharan, UML has picked Manju Bhandari as mayoral candidate. Bhandari is incumbent deputy mayor of Dharan. She had also worked as the acting mayor of Dharan from 2075 BS to 2076 BS. UML has chosen Padam Prashad Limbu as the deputy mayor of Dharan. Limbu has also worked as Ward Number 19 chairperson during the time of mayor of Manoj Menyangbo from 2054 BS to 2059 BS. Dharan and Itahari are the only Sub-Metropolitan Cities in Province 1. UML has fielded its woman candidacy for Sub-Metropolitan City for the first time for the mayoral position.

Former lawmaker Jha passes away

 

Former lawmaker Dr Dimpal Kumari Jha has passed away. Jha, who was battling cancer, died at her residence in Ranibari in Kathmandu, today.

Also former state minister, she was member of the Provincial Assembly of Madhes Province from the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party. Spouse of LSP leader and former minister Anil Kumar Jha, she was battling cancer for the past two years, said the family. She was receiving treatment at Bhaktapur Hospital since two months. Lately, she was taken care at her house on the advice of doctors involved in her treatment, said LSP leader Keshab Jha.