Ending months of uncertainty the four major ruling and opposition parties in Nepal agreed on Monday to hold the next parliamentary polls by May end this year, Utpal Parashar reports.
Ending months of uncertainty the four major ruling and opposition parties in Nepal agreed on Monday to hold the next parliamentary polls by May end this year.
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There has been no agreement yet on who would head the next government, which will conduct polls. A decision on this contentious issue is expected to be taken within the next couple of days.
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“Since we can’t agree on the leadership of any party, there is no point wasting more time,” Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai told media persons in Bharatpur on Monday.
Sources say that parties could agree on allowing an independent candidate to head the next government during their meeting with President Ram Baran Yadav this evening.
There are indications that the responsibility of heading the next government could be handed over to the sitting Chief Justice - a formula proposed by the ruling Maoists last week.
Nepal’s interim constitution doesn’t provide such a role for a sitting Supreme Court judge and amendments will have to be put in place before the Chief Justice can assume to role of Prime Minister.
On Saturday the President had asked all the four major parties to reach an agreement on forming the next unity government within two days.
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Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai met Yadav on Sunday and expressed willingness to hand over reins of government once the parties agree on a candidate to replace him.
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Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai met Yadav on Sunday and expressed willingness to hand over reins of government once the parties agree on a candidate to replace him.
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Meanwhile, the country’s election commission has indicated that it might not be possible to hold elections within May unless changes to the constitution and electoral laws are made immediately.
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
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