Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Federal Parliament Secretariat has begun looking for spaces to set up offices for three new parties which have emerged in the Nepali political scene.
Rojnath Pandey, the spokesperson for the Federal Parliament Secretariat, said the secretariat is looking at the buildings of Hello Sarkar, Ministry of Defence and the old building of the Ministry of Home Affairs to set up spaces for parliamentary party offices of Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nagarik Unmukti Party and Janamat Party.
The secretariat will also have to arrange office space for Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) as it had not gained ‘national party’ status in 2017 and was not allotted office. The party has won seven first past the post (FPTP) seats and is on course to add a few more seats under the proportionate representation (PR).
The secretariat plans to allocate their existing offices to Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), and other parties. There is a practice of providing office space to parties even if they have only one member.
The secretariat has written to the Chief Secretary, stating that it needs 16 rooms and a hall.
Likewise, there is a practice of providing office spaces to even independent lawmakers if demanded. Therefore, the secretariat plans to allot the office space of Durga Paudel to Chitra Bahadur KC of Rastriya Jana Morcha, while Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party will be allocated his existing office. Seven independent lawmakers have been elected in the November 20 election. “If they need office space, we will provide them,” said Pandey.
The secretariat has written to the Chief Secretary, stating that it needs 16 rooms and a hall.
Though the Election Commission is yet to inform the secretariat about the parties that will be represented in the parliament, the secretariat has begun preparation from its side. “Final results have not come yet. But have a fair knowledge of which parties will be represented in the parliament,” Pandey said. “We are making preparation accordingly.”
