Three parties agree to begin process to elect House committee chairs

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 5:Three major political parties have agreed to expedite the process of electing chairmen of various parliamentary committees. 

During a meeting called by Speaker Devraj Ghimire on Tuesday, Prime Minister and chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML chairman KP Sharma Oli pledged to refrain from causing any delays in electing the chairpersons of the parliamentary committees. 

Talking to journalists after the meeting, Speaker Ghimire said there was an agreement to select the leadership of the parliamentary committees as soon as possible. He said the meeting was called to address the issue of the parliamentary committees’ inability to function in a lack of their chairpersons. 

 “The meeting also discussed making the parliamentary activities effective and dynamic as well as finalising the leadership of the parliamentary committees,” he added. Informing that he had asked the party leaders to take a prompt decision regarding the election  of the parliamentary committee leaders, he said, “The responsibility of activating parliamentary activities does not rest only on my shoulders, but also on the political parties and their leaders.”

Speaker Ghimire said, “For a long time, the parliamentary committees have been under the leadership of senior members. It is imperative to put an end to this situation without delay. I sought advice and suggestions on whether they will agree to proceed with an election or not. I made it clear that if immediate action is not taken, I will have no choice but to take necessary measures.”

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Dhanraj Gurung, who was also present at the meeting, said the top leaders of the parties agreed to initiate the process of electing the parliamentary committee chairpersons. 

Minister Gurung expressed his commitment to seeing that the previous agreement regarding the chairmen was implemented. “It is significant to convey a message of unity among parties in the parliament,” he said.

He affirmed the readiness of the parties to proceed in accordance with the existing agreement. 

“The past agreements on sharing the leadership in the parliamentary committees will be implemented. The discussion will be held with the chief whips of the political party to proceed with the selection process,” he added.

The leaders also agreed to resolve the distortion, inconsistencies and deficiencies seen in politics and strengthen the federal democratic republic, informed Minister Gurung. 

The leadership of Koshi Province government was also discussed in the meeting, he added. There are 10 thematic committees in the House of Representatives (HoR) and two joint committees involving members of both the Upper and Lower Houses. 

The parliamentary committees actively address the issues of public importance, monitor the government’s performance, and contribute to accountability and transparency.

The absence of agreement among the parties has created obstacles in electing the leadership of the parliamentary committees in the HoR. Consequently, a senior member of the parliament is temporarily presiding over the committee meetings.