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At a time when efforts are being made to form a new government under the leadership of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and CPN (Maoist Center) General Secretary Dev Gurung held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss a possible left alliance and power sharing. The CPN (Maoist Center) has been bargaining with the Congress saying that they could even join hands with the UML. A key partner of the incumbent coalition government, the Maoist Center, which had earlier said that the current alliance should be given continuity to take the country towards the path of prosperity, has recently intensified meetings with the main opposition UML. Second rung leaders of the UML and the Maoist Center have been mounting pressure on Oli and Dahal to join hands together. Earlier this week, UML politburo member Mahesh Basent held a meeting with Maoist Center Chairman Dahal and stressed that the UML and Maoist Center should form a government together. During the meeting held on Tuesday night, Maoist Center leader Gurung told Oli that there is no alternative to left alliance and can form a government now also. According to a source, second rung leaders of both the parties are planning to arrange a meeting between Oli and Dahal. “We are creating a conducive environment to arrange a meeting between the chairperson of two parties. Oli and Dahal will meet soon,” a UML leader close to Oli said. The leader was of the opinion that both the leaders have felt that a communist government is indispensable for the long-term development of the country. “Both the chairmen are ready to move ahead by correcting the mistakes made in the past,” the leader said, adding, “Both the leaders have felt that the left alliance and communist government are essential for the long-term development of the country.” A Maoist Center leader said that Gurung went to Balkot to meet Oli after holding a broader discussion with Dahal. The source said that the duo discussed the possibility of forming a government by roping in some fringe parties. The CPN-UML has won 79 seats – 57 FPTP and 32 PR while the Maoist Center has won 32 seats.

Tharu leaders of the ruling coalition have united in favor of the ordinance brought by the government. Organizing a joint press conference in the Capital on Tuesday, the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Center) leaders defended the ordinance. At a time when the Nepali Congress General Secretary duo Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma have been protesting against the ordinance, NC central members Ram Janam Chaudhary, Yogendra Chaudhary, Gopal Dahit, and Kalpana Chaudhary among others welcomed the government’s move. During the conference, they strongly condemned the remarks of their own leaders including Thapa and Sharma. NC central member Yogendra Chaudhary warned that they would retaliate against those who protested against the ordinance. “The Tharuhat movement was held to protect the sovereignty of the country. But, the sentiments of Tharu were hurt by showing the Tharu movement. We honor the ordinance brought to resolve the false cases filed during the movement,” he said, adding, “We will not remain silent against those who are playing a game to destroy the ordinance and raise questions against it. We are ready to take to the streets to retaliate against them.” He said that Resham Chaudhary was framed because of a political conspiracy. Another NC central member Ram Janam Chaudhary said that they are hopeful that President Bidya Devi Bhandari would authenticate the ordinance. He also urged Gagan Thapa to recall his remarks he made some time ago. During a program, Thapa had said that Resham Chaudhary was innocent and should be released at the earliest. CPN (Maoist Center) politburo leader Santa Kumar Tharu welcomed the government’s move to issue the ordinance and said that the Tharu leaders became united to pile pressure on the party leaders. Earlier, NC General Secretary Bishwo Prakash Sharma had also objected to the government decision to bring the ordinance.  

Suspended Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana is retiring today. He resumed office on 2 January, 2019 after taking the oath of office and secrecy. On 13 February, 2022, JBR faced an impeachment motion accusing him of failure to discharge his official responsibilities. Following this, he on December 6 pleaded by filing an application at the Parliament Secretariat seeking for the impeachment motion against him becoming ineffective. As per his demand, the Secretariat on December 7 sent a letter to the court citing that the impeachment motion against him was ineffective. However, a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court against the letter. Following this, the apex court on Friday issued an interim order asking for not implementing the letter. Following the suspension of JBR, senior justice Hari Krishna Karki is working as acting CJ of the apex court. For the appointment of the new CJ, the Judicial Council will send an eligible name for the CJ to the Constitutional Council. Thereafter, the Constitutional Council will recommend the name with the Parliamentary Committee for a hearing. After the approval of the name by the Parliamentary Committee, President will appoint the new CJ, according to a legal provision. Spokesperson at the Judicial Council, Man Bahadur Karki said the hearing process will move ahead accordingly as the formation of the Constitutional Council and the Parliamentary Hearing Committee will likely take some time.

CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal has reached the North Korean embassy at Jhamsikhel in Kathmandu to take part in the memorial assembly of Kim Jong-il, father of Kim Jong Un, supreme leader of North Korea. The North Korean embassy had invited Nepal as the chief guest of the memorial assembly. North Korean Ambassador to Nepal Jo Yong Man welcomed former prime minister Nepal at the Embassy. Earlier on November 9, Ambassador Jo had held a meeting with Nepal at the latter’s residence in Koteshwor. The North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was born in Russia on February 16, 1941 and died on December 17, 2011. He had ruled North Korea from October 8, 1997 to December 17, 2011. During the program, leader Nepal praised the role played by Kim Jong Il to develop the relations between Nepal and North Korea and also for development of North Korea. Ambassador Jo Yong Man among Embassy officials was present on the occasion. Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, were not present in the program. Nepal and North Korea have diplomatic relations. North Korea has an embassy in Nepal but Nepal does not have embassy in North Korea.