Election Process for Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Commences

Kathmandu. The election process for the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has officially begun. During Wednesday's session, Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal scheduled the election for Chaitra 27 and directed the Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat, Harka Rai, to publish the notice immediately.

Following Speaker Aryal's directive and the subsequent publication of the notice by Secretary Rai, the process to select a new Deputy Speaker is underway. Speaker Aryal, a lawmaker from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), was elected unopposed. According to the constitution, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker must be of different genders and from different parties, though it remains uncertain which party will secure the position.

Rule 7 of the House of Representatives Regulations stipulates that the election for the Deputy Speaker shall be held on the date and time specified by the Speaker. Accordingly, Aryal has set the election date.

The House of Representatives includes the RSP, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepal Communist Party, Shram Sanskriti Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party. In the 275-member House, the RSP holds a comfortable majority with 182 lawmakers, while the Nepali Congress has 38, CPN-UML 25, Nepal Communist Party 17, Shram Sanskriti Party 7, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party 5.

Given the RSP's absolute majority, their supported candidate will likely become the Deputy Speaker. Parties other than the CPN-UML have staked claims for the position, but the RSP has yet to give a 'green signal' to any party. RSP leaders stated that discussions with other parties are ongoing, but no conclusion has been reached yet.