What Happens to National Assembly Nominations When the President Delays Approval?

When the interim government led by Sushila Karki recommended Omprakash Aryal for the position of National Assembly member, President Ram Chandra Paudel has yet to make a decision and has kept the nomination on hold. On the 20th of Falgun, following the completion of the six-year term of National Assembly member Bamdev Gautam, then Home Minister Aryal’s name was proposed to fill the vacancy. However, even after three months since the cabinet’s recommendation on Chaitra 1, approval or withdrawal has not occurred. When asked about this matter, the Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, stated, “Discussions are ongoing, and no final decision has been made yet.”

President Paudel has identified two main reasons for withholding the nomination to the National Assembly vacancy. According to Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson Ritesh Shakya, the decision is to not appoint Aryal until directives from the new government are received. Shakya explained, “First, the recommendation was made on the basis that the person previously holding the position was an incumbent. Second, since the election has concluded and a new mandate has been delivered, it is expected that the new government might propose alternative recommendations.”

At the time Aryal was nominated, the vote counting for the House of Representatives was in its final stages, and indications showed the Rastriya Swatantra Party was gaining an independent majority. Consequently, the President decided not to advance the old government’s recommendations. “Once the new government communicates its position, further deliberations will take place. However, no such proposals have been made yet,” he added.

According to the Constitution, out of 59 National Assembly members, 56 are elected — eight from each of the seven provinces. The remaining three are appointed by the President. Among these three appointed members, two still have remaining terms. Narayan Dahal, who was appointed four years ago, currently serves as the National Assembly Chairperson, while Anjan Shakya’s term also has four years left. Nepal’s constitutional framework mandates that the President acts based on the Cabinet’s recommendations.