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Nepal has urged the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to invest in projects which are productive and capable of creating jobs. During a meeting held between National Planning Commission (NPC) Vice Chair Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha and ADB Country Director Arnaud Cauchois at Singha Durbar today, the former requested for the same. On the occasion, the NPC Vice Chair insisted on the need of increasing investment in the productive and employment creation projects in Nepal. He also thanked the regional bank for its support to Nepal's development endeavors, expressing his hope for the continuity of the ADB assistance in the days to come. During the meeting, the two discussed cooperation between the NPC and the ADB and the ADB-funded projects in Nepal.  The ADB country director apprised the NPC Vice Chair that a 'portfolio review' of ADB investment in Nepal has improved. He added that the ADB is ready to invest in new projects launched by the government. The ADB's investment in Nepal is equivalent to USD 3.2 billion. Till the year 2022, the ADB's investment was in energy, transport, agricultural, drinking water, urban development, service, rural development, health and education sectors and in the natural resources. It has invested in various projects including Melamchi Drinking Water Project, Gautam Buddha International Airport and Upper Trishuli Hydropower Project. Last year, the ADB had provided a loan equivalent to 255 million US Dollar to Nepal. During the portfolio review meeting, the ADB also awarded the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project, Rural Enterprise Financing Project and Electricity Transmission and Distribution Efficiency Enhancement Project.  

Lumbini Province Chief Minister Lila Giri failed to secure a vote of confidence on Monday. The proposal of vote of confidence tabled by Chief Minister Giri was rejected by a majority of lawmakers in a meeting of the Province Assembly held this afternoon. A total of 33 votes were cast in favor of Giri while 53 votes were cast against him. There are 87 lawmakers in Lumbini Province. Giri was appointed as the Chief Minister with the support of 58 lawmakers on January 11. Nepali Congress has 27 lawmakers in Lumbini Province while CPN-UML has 29, CPN (Maoist Center) has 10 and Nagarik Unmukti Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have four lawmakers each. Similarly, Janata Samajbadi Party and Democratic Socialist Party have three lawmakers each and CPN (Unified Socialist) and Rastriya Janamorcha have one lawmaker each. There are two independent lawmakers in the province.  

The counting of votes cast in the by-election held in Chitwan-2 on Sunday will begin from 1 am today. District Election Officer Bhimsen Karksi said that the counting of votes will start from 1 pm. Preparations are being made to count the votes at the International Exhibition Center of Chitwan Industry Association. An all-party meeting is underway at present. The counting of votes was delayed after the representatives of the Nepali Congress said that the counting should not be started until the case of violation of code of conduct filed against Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane is heard. The Election Commission had decided to hold the by-election in Chitwan-2 after the Supreme Court scrapped Lamichhane’s lawmaker post saying that he had never applied to reclaim his Nepali citizenship after renouncing his American citizenship. CPN-UML’s Ram Prasad Neupane, Nepali Congress’s Jit Narayan Shrestha and Rastriya Swatantra Party’s Lamichhane among other candidates are in the fray in Chitwan.  

The counting of votes for the by-election held in Bara-2 on Sunday will begin from 11 am today. Chief Election Officer Mukesh Upadhyay said that an all-party meeting held this morning at the Education Training Center in Gangapur, Kalaiya has decided to start the counting of votes at 11 am. UML leader and former minister Jwala Sah said that the parties have agreed to allow two representatives each of 34 candidates to sit in the room where the votes will be counted. The Election Commission said that 68, 887 votes were cast in the election held in Bara-2 on Sunday.