News Digest: Domestic Politics and Governance (January 13 – 19, 2022)
On January 18, the ruling alliance held a meeting in order to discuss elections. The Election Commission had proposed elections for April-May. The Commission’s laws on local elections and constitutional provisions had contradictory positions regarding local laws, and the meeting decided to give priority to the latter.
CPN-UML criticized the Deuba government for not speaking up on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to extend and expand a road network through the disputed territory of Lipulekh to Kailash Mansarovar. The Deuba government has not yet responded to Modi’s statement, which was made in December last year.
Elections for the 19 vacant positions for National Assembly members are to be held on January 26. The election, according to the Local Level Election Act, should be carried out within six months within the end of the term.
The CPN (Unified Socialist) Party Youth Union has filed a case in the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority demanding investigation into the Lalita Niwas case. The case has demanded that Kumar Regmi and Navin Poudel, who were illegally acquiring land, should be disciplined.
31 individuals of the judiciary, including a Supreme Court judge and the chief registrar, have been quarantined after being diagnosed for Covid-19.
After a meeting held at the Ministry of Home Affairs, the government has decided to make it mandatory to show the vaccine card while visiting public places from January 22. The CCMC had also recommended the government to strictly implement this rule.
CESIF Nepal