My Republica

Ashok Dahal

Ashok Dahal has been covering political and parliamentary affairs for Republica since 2013. He has worked for different media houses—print, television and radio.
asokdahal@gmail.com

Bhandari set to be re-elected as president

Published On: March 8, 2018 01:38 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Mar 7: Reelection of President Bidya Devi Bhanadri for a second term  has become certain after the ruling left alliance filed her candidacy Wednesday, under the new federal setup.  Given their clear majority in the electoral college for president, which includes members of parliament and the seven provincial assemblies,  Bhandari, the nominee of the left alliance for  head of  state is now poised to remain president  for the next five years.

Oli expands cabinet to 7, inducts 2 Maoists

Published On: February 27, 2018 07:00 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 27: Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli expanded his three-member cabinet to seven members on Monday, inducting ministers from major ruling partner CPN (Maoist Center) also.

Election for new Prez on March 13

Published On: February 23, 2018 06:00 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 23: The Election Commission has announced  March 13 as the date for electing the third president of the Republic.

63-year-old to chair House due to wrong birth date

Published On: February 22, 2018 04:30 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: Lawmaker Mahendra Yadav, who is younger than at least a dozen other members of parliament, is going to chair parliamentary meetings as the eldest member of the 275-member House until a speaker is elected.

UML, MC reach on seven-point party unification deal

Published On: February 19, 2018 11:31 PM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 19: CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have reached on seven-point party unification deal

Govt to declare all its employees killed in insurgency martyrs

Published On: February 5, 2018 08:46 PM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Less than a month before its exit from power, the Sher Bahadur Deuba government on Monday decided to declare all  civil servants, security personnel, public sector employees and government teachers killed during the decade-long Maoist armed insurgency as martyrs.

Race for provincial assembly speakers begins

Published On: February 4, 2018 06:38 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 4: With all seven provinces likely to fix the date for the election of the speakers of their provincial assemblies by Monday, the race for speakers in all seven provinces has begun and aspirants have expedited lobbying for themselves in their parties.

Race for provincial assembly speakers begins

Published On: February 4, 2018 01:26 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 3: With all seven provinces likely to fix the date for the election of the speakers of their provincial assemblies by Monday, the race for speakers in all seven provinces has begun and aspirants have expedited lobbying for themselves in their parties.

All provinces to have governments in two weeks

Published On: February 1, 2018 05:30 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: All seven provinces are likely to get their governments within the next two weeks due to the constitutional provision requiring a chief minister to win vote of confidence from the concerned provincial assembly within 30 days of the declaration of final election results.

Most parties led by those eligible for elderly allowance

Published On: January 26, 2018 09:25 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Jan 26: While the government's latest decision to reduce the  eligibility age for the elderly allowance suggests that citizens above 65  are not up to any income-generating work and  deserve protection under the state's social security policy, a majority of leaders holding key posts in major political parties and in recent governments fall into this age group.

Govt names temporary capitals, governors

Published On: January 18, 2018 07:30 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Jan 18: After its efforts to decide the temporary provincial capitals and recommend the governors in consultation with the left alliance failed, the government on Wednesday went ahead with the decisions on its own.

Govt in fix over capitals, guvs as left alliance non-committal

Published On: January 13, 2018 07:57 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Jan 13: The government is  in a fix over the appointment of governors and fixing of temporary capitals of the seven provinces as the left alliance of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) is non-committal about forging an all-party consensus over these issues.

With new govt delayed, poll losers still ministers

Published On: January 12, 2018 07:05 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Jan 12: At least 14 ministers out of the total of 33 in the Sher Bahadur Deuba government are still heading key ministries despite losing the elections as the formation of a new government is being delayed. With the new government expected only after the end of February, they will get a chance to lead the government for three months even after their election defeat.

Maoist ministers enjoy state perks but avoid Singha Durbar

Published On: December 28, 2017 08:27 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Dec 28: Ministers representing the CPN (Maoist Center) have stopped going to office after they were rendered without portfolio on September 18.  They also do not have any business going out in the field in their official capacity as they do not hold any ministerial portfolio.

Provincial administration in limbo as statute deadline inches closer

Published On: December 26, 2017 06:30 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Dec 26: Though just a month remains for the summoning of the first meetings of all seven provincial assemblies, the government is yet to fix the provincial capitals, set up the meeting halls for the provincial assemblies and appoint the provincial governors.

Leaders of major parties divided over provincial capitals

Published On: December 24, 2017 05:00 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Dec 24: With the government delaying to fix the temporary provincial capitals in the seven provinces, leaders and cadres from across the political spectrum have started lobbying for making their hometowns as provincial capitals.

'Prez should authenticate the upper house ordinance'

Published On: December 21, 2017 05:30 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

Nepali Congress leader Bal Krishna Khand is considered as one of the confidants of party president and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Khand, who is a former defense minister, spoke to Republica's Ashok Dahal on Wednesday morning about his party's position on National Assembly formation, government leadership handover and the party's recent electoral performance.

78 % UML, 58 % Maoist candidates won polls

Published On: December 15, 2017 06:30 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Dec 15: Seventy-eight percent of CPN-UML candidates and 58 percent of CPN (Maoist Center) candidates have won the recently concluded parliamentary and provincial assembly elections across the country.

No new PM before upper house is formed: NC

Published On: December 14, 2017 08:40 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Dec 14: Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML find themselves at odds  whether the new prime minister should be elected prior to the formation of the National Assembly, the upper house of parliament.

42 pc new faces in parliament under FPTP

Published On: December 13, 2017 06:22 AM NPT By: Ashok Dahal

KATHMANDU, Dec 13: Of the total 165 lawmakers in parliament to be elected under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category, at least 40 percent are going to be new faces. In the 275-member lower house, 110 members are to be nominated under the proportional representation (PR) category after the allocation of PR seats to  political parties on the basis of the PR votes they secured  across the country.