Evening Briefing: Royalist Activity Surges Ahead of Elections, Air Pollution Concerns, and Legal Updates

Kathmandu. Today is the last day of Magh, 2082 BS. We are here with Ratopati's evening presentation, Ratopati Briefing, featuring the top ten news stories of the day—

1. Royalist Activism

With only three weeks remaining until the House of Representatives elections, royalists have suddenly increased their activity under the guise of welcoming former King Gyanendra Shah. As the former King, currently in Jhapa, is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on Friday, royalists are preparing a grand welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport.

2. Air Pollution

The sky over the Kathmandu Valley has been covered by thick, hazy smog for the past few days. Although this problem, which increases with the onset of winter, currently appears to be a normal seasonal process, it is beginning to take the form of a public health crisis every year. 

3. Mahashivaratri Preparations

The Pashupati Area Development Trust has announced that preparations for the Mahashivaratri festival in the Pashupati area have reached their final stage. The Trust provided this information regarding management and preparations at a press conference on Thursday.

According to the Trust, arrangements have been made for traffic management, darshan (viewing) through four lines for devotees, and security on the day of Shivaratri. Mahashivaratri falls on Falgun 2.

4. Hamal at the Supreme Court

Gopal Hamal, the Mayor of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, has approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the 'Sudurpashchim Province Local Service (Formation and Operation) Act, 2081' enacted by the Sudurpashchim Province Government violates the constitutional rights of local levels.

The Supreme Court's Constitutional Bench has decided to place the writ filed by Mayor Hamal on the priority list for hearing.

5. Court Proceedings

The hearing for the case of UML leader and former minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Bechan Jha, who are currently in custody for judicial custody in the fake Bhutanese refugee case, has been postponed.

The scheduled hearing before the bench of Judges Surya Nath Prakash Adhikari and Gopal Prasad Bastola of the Patan High Court was postponed after lawyers representing Rayamajhi filed a request. 

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Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), expressed confidence that the court will deliver justice regarding the allegations against him.

Lamichhane, who appeared to receive his summons at the Kaski District Court in Pokhara on Thursday, told journalists that he has to attend various courts for summons currently, but expressed faith that the court will deliver justice for him. 

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Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balendra Shah (Balen), returned to his election campaign after receiving his summons for contempt of court at the Supreme Court on Thursday.

A staff member from the case department stated that Balen, who is a candidate for the House of Representatives election from Jhapa Constituency No. 5, returned after receiving his summons on Thursday afternoon.

6. Ambition to Become an MP

For those involved in politics, there is an aspiration to win the House of Representatives election, become a Member of Parliament (MP), and subsequently a minister. To fulfill this, some try within their affiliated party, while others attempt to reach parliament even by switching parties.

Leaders at the top level are engaged in efforts to become MPs, ministers, or prime ministers by changing parties. This includes Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Rajendra Mahato, who are contesting elections for the eighth time, former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Sharad Singh Bhandari, who has become a minister the most times.

7. Congress Circular

The Nepali Congress is set to launch the 'My 21 Days for Falgun 21' program to mobilize party-affiliated leaders and cadres for the House of Representatives elections.

This campaign will commence from Falgun 1. The party's Central Working Committee, in a virtual meeting held on Sunday, made the decision to run this election-focused program and issued a circular on Thursday.

8. Session Concluded

The National Assembly session has been concluded effective tomorrow. President Ramchandra Paudel prorogued the session in accordance with Article 93 (2) of the Constitution.

9. Interest Rates

Eight commercial banks have adjusted their interest rates. According to the new interest rate schedules published by the banks for the month of Falgun, these banks have made adjustments to their rates.

10. Stock Market

On Thursday, the last trading day of the week, the stock market index (NEPSE) showed a slight increase. According to the Nepal Stock Exchange, the NEPSE index closed today after rising by 8.97 points to 2671.07 points.