Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The long-running conflict between National Assembly Chairperson Ganesh Prasad Timilsina and Speaker of House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota has come to the surface after the former expressed concern over the term of the Speaker of the lower house.
Timilsina recently enquired about the Speaker’s term, writing a letter to the Election Commission. He even directed the general secretary of the parliament to not implement decisions taken by Speaker Sapkota.
According to Federal Parliament Secretariat, its management committee meeting held on September 21 under the chairmanship of Speaker Sapkota endorsed the appointments of under secretaries Sushila Acharya and Numaraj Khanal.
Though the appointments are made by the Public Service Commission, there is a practice of endorsing the appointments by the Federal Parliament Secretariat.
The meeting also approved the study leaves of joint secretary Jhalak Sharma Sapkota, under secretary Singharaj Rumba, and officers Meghraj Aryal and Bhanu Pokhrel. Likewise, the meeting also endorsed appointments and promotions of other staffers of the Federal Parliament Secretariat.
Timilsina didn’t attend the meeting.
“National Assembly Chairperson Timilsina was not present in the meeting,” Federal Parliament Secretariat Spokesperson Roj Nath Pandey said.
Timilsina has expressed dissent over decisions taken by the meeting that he didn’t attend. Further, he has questioned the legitimacy of Speaker Sapkota.
Referring to the submission of the closed list of candidates under the proportionate representation system, Timilsina directed the general secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat to not implement the decisions taken on September 21.
Timilsina was elected chairperson from CPN-UML, while Speaker Sapkota is from CPN (Maoist Center). The two parties, which formed an alliance in the 2017 elections and even unified to form Nepal Communist Party, are at opposite poles today.
