Koshi Province: Decision to provide vehicle facility to ruling party leader Thapa unlawfully

Biratnagar, November 13 – Since the change of coalition in July, Uddhav Thapa, leader of the Nepali Congress parliamentary party in Koshi Province, which is now part of the ruling coalition, has continued to enjoy privileges originally meant for the leader of the opposition.

After the news report was published, Thapa expressed his frustration to this scribe, questioning: "What have you written? Are you implying that I, as part of the ruling party, am taking allowances meant for the opposition leader? Is one month’s allowance enough to claim we are dying? Is that what you're saying? Please report the truth."

Despite his party's shift to the ruling coalition, Thapa has retained the government vehicle that was allocated to him when he was the leader of the opposition. The vehicle, with license plate KO1JHA 653, has not been returned, a practice deemed illegal under current regulations. Furthermore, the government, led by Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, has now formally decided to continue providing him the same vehicle, a decision that lacks legal justification.

On September 29, the provincial cabinet officially decided to grant Thapa a vehicle, driver, and 125 liters of fuel per month, a decision published in the official gazette on the same day. However, under the "Provincial Assembly Members' Remuneration and Facilities Act," Thapa is not entitled to such benefits. The law only provides such privileges to recognized officeholders, which include the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, leader of the main opposition, leader of the ruling party, and committee chairs, but not to leaders of ruling parties.

Therefore, the provision of these facilities to Thapa is considered unlawful, as the law does not include leaders of ruling parties as entitled to such benefits. The decision by the Province Council of Ministers to grant Thapa these facilities is, therefore, in violation of the law.

Previously, in January, the government under Kedar Karki amended the law to classify former chief ministers and party leaders as "officeholders," a move that was strongly opposed by the then-opposition, CPN-UML, including Hikmat Kumar Karki. After the fall of Kedar Karki’s government, the new government reverted to the old provisions. However, the recent decision by the Council of Ministers to grant Thapa a vehicle and additional benefits was made based on these amended provisions.

A staff member of the Provincial Assembly Secretariat mentioned that Thapa never returned the government vehicle even after his party joined the ruling coalition. "When his position as opposition leader changed, he should have returned the vehicle, but since he didn't, the government has now decided to provide him with the same vehicle," the staff member explained.

The Council of Ministers' decision now obligates the Provincial Assembly to provide Thapa with the vehicle, fuel, and driver as per the newly amended provisions, which include an allocation of 125 liters of fuel per month for provincial officeholders.