KATHMANDU – Political parties visibly active in Province 1 are sharply divided over the name of the Province. From five-party ruling coalition – CPN (Unified Socialist), Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), People’s Socialist Party, Federal Democratic Front- to opposition parties including main opposition CPN(UML), there lacks a consensus name for the last remaining unnamed province of Nepal.
In order to begin the process for the consensus name, Chief Minister of Province 1 Rajendra Rai had called an all-party meeting today at Chief Minister’s Office Biratnagar. The meeting, however, did not yield any substantive decision for the naming of the Province that borders both India and China.
Meanwhile, Province 1 Committee of People’s Socialist Party has floated the name of ‘Kirat-Limbuwan-Madhesh-Sherpalung’ in a release by Provincial Chair Prabin Chamling. The party has proposed the name being based on originality, and historic and political background and identities of the Province, it is said.
“The party is clear that the Province’s name should reflect its historic and cultural identities,” the statement reads. Major parties like CPN (UML), Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist) have not officially decided the unanimous name from their respective parties. However, names that are making rounds are Koshi, Kirat, Limbuwan, Sagarmatha, Birat, Kochila, Bijayapur, among others.
When Nepal Communist Party was at the helm of Province 1 Government with two-thirds majority, two popular names making rounds in the intra-party discussion were Koshi and Kirat. Ruling coalition, commanding majority of the 92-member Provincial Assembly, has not come up with common name. On the other hand main opposition CPN (UML) has also not floated an official name for the discussion. ”Once the ruling coalition brings a consensus name, we will either agree or suggest another name”, remarked Buddhi Kumar Rajbhandari, the Chief Whip of the CPN (UML).
The upcoming Provincial Assembly session will be held on February 27. ”Both ruling and opposition parties must not waste their five-year-long tenure with naming the Province,” remarked Raju KC, the Chair of Civil Society Itahari. He added, ”We need the official name of our province before other elections of the Provincial Assembly which is fast-approaching.”
