President Paudel Follows Precedent Set by Former President Bhandari in National Assembly Appointment Delay

Kathmandu. President Ramchandra Paudel has mirrored the precedent set by former President Bidya Devi Bhandari regarding the appointment of National Assembly members recommended by the government.

The cabinet meeting led by the interim government under Sushila Karki on Chaitra 1 recommended the then Home Minister, Om Prakash Aryal, for appointment as a National Assembly member to the President. The Office of the President confirmed that the recommendation reached them a few days later. However, President Paudel has not appointed Home Minister Aryal as per the recommendation.

Sources from the Office of the President indicated that President Paudel is following the precedent set by the decision made by the then President Bidya Devi Bhandari in 2074 BS.

In 2074 BS, just as a new government was preparing to take office following elections, the government led by then-Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba recommended three names for the National Assembly membership.

The Constitution of Nepal stipulates that the President shall appoint three members to the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the government. In accordance with this provision, the Deuba-led government recommended the names of Krishna Prasad Paudel, Gopal Basnet, and Chandani Joshi for National Assembly membership. However, the then-President Bhandari did not approve the names of Paudel, Basnet, and Joshi. In the House of Representatives election held in 2074 BS, the then CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) formed an alliance and secured a comfortable majority, leading to UML Chairman Oli becoming the Prime Minister. After becoming Prime Minister, Oli withdrew the recommendation of the previous government and recommended Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, Ramnarayan Bidari, and Bimala Paudel Rai for National Assembly membership.

President Bhandari ratified the names of Dr. Khatiwada, Bidari, and Paudel Rai. Currently, with elections concluded and a new mandate established, President Paudel has kept the decision on hold after the Karki-led government recommended the name of the incumbent Home Minister Aryal for the single vacant seat.

Paudel has been telling close associates that he will only appoint the National Assembly member with the consent of the incoming Prime Minister. It is certain that Balen Shah, a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, will become the new Prime Minister. His oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Friday.