Gandaki Assembly passes two bills

BY FADINDRA ADHIKARI,Lekhnath, Mar. 5: A meeting of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly passed two bills on Monday. The Provincial Assembly passed the Management of Seed Bill and the Mass Communications Bill, which were approved by the thematic committee of the Assembly.

In the province, the office of the Chief Minister and Minister of Councils has been looking after mass communications. 

After the bills were passed, Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey said that new bills would strengthen the citizen's rights to freedom. He said, "I believe that the passed bills would make mass communications in the province independent, accountable and responsible and further enhance the freedom of thought and expression as well as the right to communication. 

In the Mass Communications Bill, there is a provision for the Registrar position equivalent to the position of the provincial secretary. The term of the Registrar with age bar of 35-60 will be four years. There is also a provision that the Selection Committee could refer an individual holding at least a bachelor's degree and work experience in journalism for at least 15 years. 

Meanwhile, it has been almost certain that the government in the Gandaki Province would also be changed with the change in the coalition in the federal government.  Informal discussions have already begun among the parties regarding the matter.

However, it is not easy for the new coalition to form a government in the Gandaki Province. In the 60-member Provincial Assembly, the CPN-UML has 22 seats and the CPN (Maoist Centre) has eight. 

To form a government, one needs 31 seats with a majority. 

At present, Krishna Dhital of the CPN (Maoist Centre) is serving as a Speaker. There is a provision that a Speaker could only cast the vote if there is a tie in the votes. If this happens, small parties like Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and CPN (Unified Socialist) might have a crucial role in the election.

In the Provincial Assembly Rastriya Prajatantra Party has two seats and the CPN (Unified Socialist) have one.  

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party which is not in the central coalition has less chance to join the government. It is also uncertain whether lawmaker Rajeev Gurung's party CPN (Unified Socialist) would be in the new coalition or not. 

In the Provincial Assembly, the Nepali Congress has 27 seats. If the ruling coalition fails to gain a majority, the NC as the largest party will gain an advantage to form the government. However, the NC will need the support of the both Rastriya Prajatantra Party and CPN (Unified Socialist).