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Nepali Congress meeting Mahasamiti is underway in Kathmandu which is deliberating the documents presented by Vice-president Purna Bahadur Khadka and general secretaries duo Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. In this context, Dilip Karki spoke with the Mahasamiti members about the recent demands inside the party that Nepal be declared as a Hindu state. 

Bishwa Prakash Sharma

This coalition represents a challenging journey of political parties with different ideologies. After the dissolution of the previous House of Representatives, the parties formed the coalition to protect the Parliament and the Constitution, and continued it through the general election as well as to form a government. Despite the fact that our backgrounds and ideological lines are different, the pre-poll alliance did achieve some successes. However, new challenges and dissatisfaction have also surfaced. Nevertheless, it is not necessary to discuss the electoral alliance four years before the election. An appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time on whether to form an alliance in the upcoming elections or to field NC candidates in all seats of all three tiers of government.

In his organizational report presented at the Mahasamiti meeting, General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has termed the pre-poll coalition politics a strategic issue and situational compulsion necessitated by special circumstances. He has stated that the party cadres have understood this coalition as an erosion of party ideology and are dissatisfied with the party. We need to educate party workers that the alliance had to be formed due to the circumstances created by the special political event and it is not a regular political event.

Bahadur Singh Thapa

This coalition should be continued for the tenure of this Parliament. We should understand that this coalition had to be formed to reinstate the dissolved parliament and to protect the constitution. A discussion has begun in the party about whether we need to form a coalition for the next election. I think we shouldn't make any decision in haste as there is a lot of time until the next election. It would be very good if we are in a position to contest the election single-handedly. But various strategies are formed in the election. Any decision about whether to form a coalition should be based on these strategies. Voices that the party should contest in the election independently are rising in the party.

Jip Chhiring Lama

There is no need to rush into the issue of whether to form a coalition as we still have four years until the next election. This is not an issue that we should be discussing now. The Mahasamiti meeting should create a blueprint for the prosperity of the country and strengthen party organization. Since forming an electoral coalition is a strategic issue, we can’t decide now what should be done.

Bhupendra Jung Shahi

Voices are rising in the party that the party shouldn't form an electoral alliance. Those who created this situation should be held responsible for this. This voice means that Nepali Congress is the largest party in the parliament and CPN (Maoist Center) with 32 seats should exit the government. I believe it was wrong to form this coalition. The coalition has weakened the party. The Mahasamiti meeting will take the necessary decision to strengthen the party.

Parbati Acharya

Coalition should be formed after confirming its justification on the basis of geography. In the past, our workers had to vote for candidates of other parties even in constituencies where NC was strong. It was an injustice to party leaders as the coalition created a situation where they couldn’t get a ticket to contest. Therefore, the coalition should be based on the need and the situation. I don't believe we shouldn’t say no to the coalition now as proposed by the General Secretary. Our performance was poor in 2017 when we contested single-handedly, while we became the largest party by forming a coalition in 2022.

Bilochan Chaudhary

All party leaders and cadres aspire to participate in the election on behalf of the party. Many friends, who have made a long contribution to the party, were deprived of opportunities in the election due to the coalition. This weakened the party. Therefore, the party should decide it won’t enter into any coalition and work to strengthen party organization from the lowest level.

Dinesh Rai

We had long been saying that the party shouldn’t enter into any electoral alliance. We fully support the general secretary’s proposal that NC should clearly state that it won’t form any electoral alliance. Even if we are to continue this alliance till the full term of this parliament, the party shouldn’t enter into other alliances.

Usha Raut

The general secretary’s proposal regarding electoral alliance is populist. He was prepared to become a minister in the government formed by the alliance that NC formed before the election. I don’t understand why he is rushing with this because the election is still four years away.

Everyone loves a clean house but not everyone loves the work that it entails. From the kitchen to the bathroom, the living room to the bedroom, the tasks can seem endless. There are countertops to clean, rugs to vacuum, books and decorative items to dust, spills to mop up, etc. It can get a tad overwhelming at times. Cleaning can feel as bothersome as an aching tooth. Even if you put off dealing with it, you know you will have to eventually attend to it, lest it gets way out of hand.

At times like these, your wish for a fairy godmother only gets stronger—someone who could take care of your problems with a single swipe of that sparkling magic wand. But there are all kinds of methods and hacks for cleaning just about everything and we’re here to share some of our favorites.

Use a pillowcase to clean fans

Do you dread cleaning the ceiling fans at the end of winter because you know dust will rain down on you? Just use an old pillowcase. Slip each blade inside the case and wipe away. The dust will be collected inside the pillowcase and not on your hair and carpet. This is an effective way to clean anything when you don’t want dust to get on the floor.

Clean pet hair with rubber gloves

We all love our four-legged friends but their hair can sometimes get on our nerves. You don’t have to buy all kinds of fancy tools to get rid of pet hair around the house. Just put on a pair of rubber gloves and run them over your furniture and other surfaces. Pet fur will gather into small balls and you can then throw them away. Alternatively, you can also use a lint roller to catch stray hairs.

Steam the microwave with lemon

This is one of the easiest things you can do to clean your microwave as well as make your house smell lovely. Put a small bowl of lemon juice in the microwave and heat it for two minutes or till the juice boils. The steam will soften the debris attached to the insides and you can simply wipe it with a clean cloth. Better, your house will have a citrusy fresh scent too. You can also rub half a lemon over chopping boards to get rid of the lingering smells of onion, garlic, etc.

Make your furniture shine with vinegar

Wooden furniture and other items can gather dust and look old and unattractive which is why regular wipe-downs are important. But the constant friction can make them lose their shine. To keep them looking new and shiny, you need to give them a little something extra time and again. Mix one part lemon juice and one part white vinegar in a spray bottle and use this solution to wipe your wooden furnishings at least twice a month. You can also use a solution of vinegar and water to wipe kitchen and bathroom tiles.

Spot-clean sofas with baby wipes

We spend a lot of time in our living room sofas. Spills and stains are inevitable. But with this easy trick, you won’t have to fret over them anymore. Use baby wipes to dab away at the stain or spill. They are gentle and contain little moisture, which is just right for spot-cleaning most materials. However, don’t rub at the spot as this will only push the stain into the fabric. Also, make sure they are baby wipes and not cleaning wipes as the latter might contain harsh chemicals that can damage surfaces.

Buy some microfiber cloth

Oftentimes, we tend to dust with whatever is around. It could be an old towel, a rag we have been meaning to throw away, or that feather duster that has seen better days. Use a microfiber cloth to pick dust from surfaces. These are especially great for TVs, refrigerators, mirrors, etc. Buy big-sized ones as it can be a bit time-consuming to clean larger areas with smaller ones.

The Fury

Alex Michaelides

Thriller | Mystery           

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. But this time, people find themselves trapped there overnight. Old friendships conceal hatred and a desire for revenge. What follows is a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ends in violence and death, as one of the guests is found murdered.

Acts of God

Kanan Gill

Science Fiction 

In Kanan Gill’s wildly entertaining and unexpectedly moving debut novel, a Danish policeman accidentally becomes a clothing-optional leader of a worldwide group of science haters, a sentient piece of wall struggles with the limits of its artistic expression and a lapel pin’s habit of always giving truthful advice causes chaos. Blending vivid inventiveness and uproarious storytelling, with an intriguing interrogation of the very nature of existence, Acts of God marks the evolution of one of India’s finest comedic voices.

The Art of Being Alone

Renuka Gavrani

Self Help

If you are ready to transform your perception around loneliness and if you are all set to achieve your goals using your ‘alone time’ then welcome to ‘The Art of Being Alone’. The Art of Being Alone is for every person who wants to learn how to use your alone time in a way that you fall in love with your current life while also feeling excited to work toward your dream life. If you are still victimizing your character because you were left behind, it’s time to turn the table around and build the life you always wished for.

All these titles and more are available at Bookverse, 4th floor, Civil Mall, Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal. You will get 15% off on all books till Feb 17 and 5% off on all other items.

Love is a magical thread that brings people together. It’s the purest connection, an essence that ignites our very existence. Imagine sharing your life with someone you love for the rest of your life. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s a beautiful dance of nature as we hold each other’s vulnerabilities dear and embrace our true selves with open hearts. Rastrika Shakya from ApEx talked to three people to find out what they think of love and how their love has evolved over the years.

Narayan Maharjan, 52

I was 19 when I met my wife. Thirty-three years later, our bond remains the same. It’s even stronger today. Since ours was a love marriage, we were comfortable around each other and there weren’t many awkward moments. But we came from different backgrounds. Despite it, we navigated the challenges with grace, we taught each other, and we learned from each other. Three years into our marriage, our son was born, and now we have a son and a daughter. Through the decades, we’ve weathered many storms together, yet my love for her remains the same. With each passing day, my affection for her grows. Her guidance has lightened my burdens, making life infinitely more manageable. There’s no need for a special day to express my love for her because every day spent with her is inherently special. She has a way of making each day extraordinary, just by being herself.

Bini Maharjan Dangol, 42

It has been 20 years since our marriage. We are blessed with two beautiful daughters and a son. Ours was an arranged marriage, and I vividly recall how shy he was around me. I’m grateful for how our arranged marriage blossomed into a profound love connection. We invested time in each other, allowing our bond to deepen and our understanding to grow.

For me, love must flow in both directions. It requires a mutual understanding and respect. If the other person doesn’t value your perspectives, it’s not love but compulsion. I would advise the younger generation not to reveal everything about themselves too quickly. Someone who may not have your best interests at heart could take advantage of you. Take the time to get to know each other. The journey is more enjoyable when stories unfold slowly, and the anticipation builds as you get to know each other better.

Rajkumar Nepali, 46

For me, love is something you see and feel. Unless you can see or feel a person the way they want to be seen or felt, it’s not love. When you love a person, you have the ability to hear their silence, feel their emotions, and read their eyes. That’s when you know you are in love.

I was 20 years old when I got married to my wife. It’s been 26 years, yet it still feels like yesterday. Time goes by so fast, and growing old together is the best feeling. I can see a huge difference in our love over these 26 years. My love for her today is even stronger and continues to grow as time passes by. What I’ve learned is that your partner is your strongest support system, the one who will stick by you no matter what, and you have to honor that.