Candidacy registration for Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives begins today

Kathmandu. The registration of candidacies for the election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives is taking place today. According to the election schedule published by the Parliament Secretariat, the time for filing nominations is set from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

A notice published by the Secretary of the House of Representatives, Harkaraj Rai, states that the list of candidates will be published in the order of registration at 2:30 PM on Thursday. The election for the Deputy Speaker is scheduled for the 27th. 

As per the constitutional provision requiring the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be of different genders and from different parties, the outcome remains uncertain. 

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

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

Since the RSP holds a majority, the candidate they support will become the Deputy Speaker. Parties other than the UML have staked their claims for the position. However, the RSP has not yet given a 'green signal' to any party. RSP leaders stated that discussions with other parties are ongoing, but no conclusion has been reached yet.