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The Judicial Council has recommended the names of Chief Returning Officers and Returning Officers to conduct the by-election scheduled to take place on December 1.

The Council has recommended the names to the Election Commission to appoint them as Chief Returning Officers in 31 districts.

Likewise, the Council has recommended Kathmandu District Court Judge Ram Prasad Sharma as the Justice of newly-constituted Consumer Court and Gyanendra Raj Regmi as its member.

The district court judges have been recommended as Chief Returning Officers for by-election.

The Council has recommended Returning Officers for by-election to be held in six local government units.

Nearly a decade ago, Baburam Bhattarai broke away from the CPN (Maoist Center) to form a new political party, aiming to provide an alternative to the established parties. His departure was rooted in the belief that, while existing parties had successfully drafted Nepal’s new constitution and ended a prolonged transitional period, they lacked the vision and capability to foster sustainable economic growth and political stability. Bhattarai urged Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal to abandon Maoism in favor of socialism, but Dahal declined.

Since then, Bhattarai’s vision of creating an alternative force has yet to materialize. His former allies within the Maoist party have returned to support Dahal’s CPN (Maoist Center), and Bhattarai’s influence in national politics has waned, with no parliamentary representation for his party.

In the 2022 elections, Bhattarai had a strong chance of winning in Gorkha-2 but chose to back the CPN (Maoist Center) in exchange for support for his daughter, Manushi Yami Bhattarai, in Kathmandu-7. Despite Bhattarai’s hopes, his party faced heavy defeats in both 2017 and 2022 elections. Nevertheless, he maintains that only a new political force can lead Nepal towards political stability and economic progress, predicting further frustration and potential anarchism if the current major parties continue to dominate.

Bhattarai has suggested a merger of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), though he believes even a united party would lose relevance within a decade. Reflecting on the Maoist movement, he sees its historic role as complete, with the remaining task of evolving into an “enhanced and enriched socialism” within a participatory and inclusive democracy. He dismisses the notion of reuniting all Maoist factions as impractical and unnecessary.

Regarding the Nepali Congress (NC), Bhattarai believes it will weaken further but continue to play a moderate role. He argues that Nepal needs a new center-left political alternative, although his efforts to build such a force have so far failed. While several smaller parties, such as Rastriya Swatantra Party, have emerged claiming an alternative stance, they have not yet become formidable players. Figures like Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and the Bibeksheel Sajha Party also represent this potential but remain largely marginalized in national politics.

Despite these setbacks, Bhattarai remains committed to forming an alternative political front. In 2016, he launched the Naya Shakti Party, although it went through several transformations and mergers, including with Upendra Yadav's party. The recent reversion to the name ‘Naya Shakti Party’ and the reinstatement of its original flag underscore Bhattarai’s determination to revive his initial vision.

Bhattarai’s Nepal Samajbadi Party (NSP) has outlined key priorities: advocating for a directly elected executive president, a fully proportional legislative system, and accelerated action on transitional justice through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Enforced Disappeared Persons. The party has also called for an investigation into the misuse of funds within the cooperative sector, demanding justice for depositors and impartial prosecution of wrongdoers, regardless of political connections.

On disaster management, NSP urges the government to assess recent flooding and landslide damages, deliver immediate relief, and initiate infrastructure rehabilitation. They emphasize preparedness and resource allocation for disaster response, calling on the state to maintain a robust readiness for any future crises.

In combating corruption, the NSP demands the formation of a Jan-Lokpal commission with the authority to investigate major corruption cases and prosecute offenders from all levels of government. Furthermore, they stress the importance of infrastructure development, urging the government to prioritize highway expansion and transportation improvements.

On international matters, the NSP has condemned Israeli actions against Palestinians and encouraged the Nepalese government to adopt a clear stance on international conflicts. The party has called for diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Nepali citizen Bipin Joshi, reportedly held by Hamas.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has said the non-resident Nepalis (NRNs) have contributed to the strengthening of Nepal's unity.

In his address to a program organized here today, marking the NRNA Day and AGM, the minister referred to NRNs as honorary ambassadors of Nepal.

On the occasion, he said the government is preparing for legal amendments to promote the economic, social, and cultural rights of the NRN community. He urged them to always stand for a prosperous Nepal with the establishment of democracy and a rule of law.

NRNA President Dr Badri KC said the NRNs are interested in investing in Nepal and urged the government to create an investment-friendly atmosphere.

NRNA former President Dr Upendra Mahato stressed the need to resolve disputes seen within the Association.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that there will be no compromise on the issues of nation and national interests for the cause of power bickering.

Addressing a seminar on the national 'Role of Ex-Security Personnel on National Security and Development', the Prime Minister recalled the signing of the Trade and Transit Agreement with China by considering the national interest when India imposed an economic blockade on Nepal.

"Now, attempts are made to attack the forms of national security under different pretexts. We have moved ahead with the firm determination not to harm others but to grasp our genuine interests," the PM added.

PM Oli said that the current government of two major political parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, was working to safeguard the aspirations of national unity and national interests.

On a separate context, PM Oli, also the CPN-UML Chairman, said the weapons that are kept under the ground and are rusted won't make any sense now and urged the concerned side not to issue threats to the Nepali society by false publicity.

Likewise, the PM urged his critics-- who term him being unpopular -- to wait until the upcoming elections.

Similarly, he said that democracy was not anarchy and added that any sort of threats was unacceptable in a democracy.

On the occasion, PM Oli said that the government implemented the report of the parliamentary committee on investigations on cooperative funds' embezzlement and stated that showing unruly acts in the court defending the investigated persons was against the democratic norms and values.