A major controversy has emerged in Nepal’s political spectrum after the term "except" was allegedly inserted into the Federal Civil Service Bill, rendering the "cooling-off period" provision meaningless. The issue has sparked widespread debate, with questions raised over who is responsible—the staff who drafted the bill or State Affairs Committee Chairman Ramhari Khatiwada.
During the Nepalkhabar episode 'Tatkali' on Tuesday, senior vice-chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist), Rajendra Pandey, accused three key bodies of involvement: the State Affairs Committee Secretariat (headed by Secretary Suraj Kumar Dura), the Federal Affairs Ministry, and the Law Ministry. He claimed that officials manipulated the bill's language after its approval, calling it a "criminal act in Nepal’s history."
Pandey further alleged that even the Parliament Speaker’s office was involved in the irregularities. He expressed shock at how far civil servants were willing to go to serve their interests, accusing some of undermining democratic processes.
Internal rift in CPN (Unified Socialist
Meanwhile, tensions flared within the party after Standing Committee member Ramkumari Jhankri indirectly criticized Chairman Madhav Nepal, stating, "You can’t carry a dead body on your shoulder forever," hinting at leadership change. Pandey strongly condemned her remarks, suggesting she no longer qualifies as a party leader and demanded action against her.
Bidya Bhandari’s role in CPN (UML) unity talks
When asked about former President Bidya Bhandari’s return to active politics in the CPN (UML), Pandey said unity between UML and Unified Socialist would only be possible if she openly criticizes Chairman KP Oli’s "authoritarian" leadership and past unconstitutional moves, including the dissolution of Parliament. The developments highlight deepening political instability and governance concerns in Nepal.
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