Kathmandu, Feb 20: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has urged the government and political parties to reach an understanding to resolve national problems before the elections.

A meeting of party office bearers held on Thursday at the party’s central office in Dhumbarahi called on the government and political forces to build consensus ahead of the polls.

“Given the present situation, we have repeatedly called for an all-party conference representing all views and forces to forge a new understanding. In this process, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has submitted a memorandum to the prime minister and has been holding talks and consultations with various political parties. We once again urge the government and political parties to reach an understanding to resolve national problems, if possible, before the elections,” the party said.

The RPP stressed that it would be appropriate to address national issues first and only then move toward the upcoming election process. It said this would help prevent conflict, unrest, and political friction after the polls.

People’s News Monitoring Service

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 Kathmandu, Feb 20: Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and Portugal’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dr Ana Isabel Xavier jointly inaugurated the Embassy of Nepal in Portugal.

Speaking at the formal ceremony, Foreign Secretary Rai said the official opening of the embassy has institutionalized friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

State Secretary Xavier said she was pleased to welcome the Nepali embassy and expressed Portugal government’s commitment to support future diplomatic efforts between the two nations.

The event was attended by Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Andres Carrascosa Coso, Nepal’s Ambassador to Portugal Prakash Mani Paudel, Secretary General of Portugal’s Foreign Ministry Ambassador Francisco Ribeiro Telles, and other members of the diplomatic community.

After the inauguration, an interaction program was held with representatives of the Nepali community. Foreign Secretary Rai and Ambassador Paudel discussed with community members the prospects for promoting Nepal in Portugal and the problems faced by Nepalis living there.

Presidents and former presidents of the Non-Resident Nepali Association Portugal, leaders of various organizations, and community representatives took part in the program.

Participants complained that the service fees charged by the embassy are expensive. They also urged the embassy to simplify procedures, saying paperwork hassles continue to create difficulties for Nepalis.

Two winners of an open essay competition organized by the embassy were awarded certificates by Foreign Secretary Rai. The embassy had held the competition on the occasion of Constitution Day 2026.

Prashant Shrestha of Kathmandu, currently residing in Portugal, secured first place, while Kapildev Khanal finished second. The winners received certificates and about Rs 32,000 each, equivalent to 200 euros.

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Kathmandu, Feb 20: Pranay Shumsher Rana, a House of Representatives ticket aspirant from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Kathmandu constituency 5 and head of its central grievance department, along with Deepak KC, a central committee member of the Nepali Communist Party, have joined the Nepali Congress.

Rana, who holds a PhD in conflict management, had contested the previous Parliamentary election from the same constituency as an RSP candidate. In the 2022 parliamentary election, he had secured 5,477 votes.

Rana had recently resigned from the RSP, accusing the party of violating its own procedures in ticket distribution. He had long questioned the party’s method, saying it collected fees promising candidate selection through primaries but later distributed tickets outside that process.

Observers believe Rana’s departure from the RSP and entry into Congress could benefit the latter in the Kathmandu 5 race, where he had built a strong local base.

UML’s Manandhar, Dhakal enter Congress

Meanwhile, Influential CPN UML leader and former minister Ram Bir Manandhar, along with former lawmaker Janardan Dhakal and 78 other leaders and cadres, have joined the Nepali Congress.

Congress President Gagan Thapa welcomed Manandhar and the group into the party during the manifesto unveiling program held at the National Assembly Hall on Thursday, Feb 19. The induction took place after Thapa’s question-and-answer session on the manifesto.

Dhakal had served as a Constituent Assembly member from UML and as the party’s former district chair in Rasuwa. Meanwhile, Dr Pranay Shumsher Rana, who recently quit the Rastriya Swatantra Party, has also joined the Nepali Congress. Rana had been seeking the RSP ticket from Kathmandu 7.

On the same day, Deepak KC, a central committee member of the Nepali Communist Party, also entered the Nepali Congress.

Similarly, KC, who has a strong influence in KMC ward 3 and previously served as ward chair, is also expected to strengthen Congress at the organizational level.

Both leaders were formally welcomed into the party at a program held at the National Assembly Hall by Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa and General Secretary Pradip Paudel.

Paudel is the Nepali Congress candidate for the House of Representatives from Kathmandu 5.

People’s News Monitoring Service

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Kathmandu, Feb 20: Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa has presented what he claims is proof that Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane was directly involved in the cooperative fraud case.

Speaking at an open question and answer program in Kathmandu, Thapa made public court documents and cheque details that he said confirm Lamichhane’s involvement.

“Friends keep asking in the comments, where is the proof. I am here today with evidence,” Thapa said. “These are not accusations I invented. They come from the verdict of the respected division bench of the Supreme Court and facts submitted in various district courts.”

Citing case files from courts in Chitwan and Rupandehi, Thapa said loans worth millions of rupees were issued in Lamichhane’s name.

According to him, records show Lamichhane spent cooperative funds while serving at Gorkha Media Network and personally signed cheques for payments.

“According to Chitwan court records, Rs 117 million was routed to Gorkha Media in Ravi Lamichhane’s name, and 414 cheques bearing his signature have been found,” Thapa claimed.

He also said that Rs 20 million was issued without collateral in Lamichhane’s personal name from Butwal’s Supreme Cooperative.

Referring to a Supreme Court ruling available on its website, Thapa said Lamichhane had participated in a board meeting and in the decision to open a bank account even before becoming managing director.

“Although he claims he received shares free of cost, the investment appears to have come from cooperative funds,” Thapa said. “Even after the date he is said to have left the company, his signature continues to appear on hundreds of cheques.”

Thapa said all these materials are public documents and can be viewed by anyone on the Supreme Court’s website.

.People’s News Monitoring Service

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Kathmandu, Feb 20: The Election Commission has called on the public to support the upcoming House of Representatives election through TikTok, offering cash prizes for the most popular videos.

The commission said the national election, set for March 5, can be promoted through short videos that help create election awareness and provide voter education. Given TikTok’s popularity among youth, the commission plans to use the platform for election outreach.

To make the polls more organized and participatory, the commission will run a TikTok video competition focused on election publicity and voter education.

Participants must create a one-minute TikTok video based on topics such as the election code of conduct and voter awareness, post it on their social media, and submit it to the commission’s email by Feb 29.

Among all submissions, the videos with the highest views will receive cash awards. The top video will win Rs 50,000, the second Rs 30,000, and the third Rs 20,000, along with certificates.

Videos must be prepared in the context of the House of Representatives election 2026 and should be message-driven and engaging. The commission said original content with the creator’s own audio and acting will receive priority.

The videos should include information such as the basics of the election, its importance, the correct way to stamp the ballot, compliance with the election code of conduct, and the rights and duties of voters. Creators may focus on any one of these themes.

An individual may submit one video per topic, and videos may also be produced in groups. The commission will hold rights over submitted videos and may broadcast them through its own social media platforms.

Videos that fail to meet the stated criteria or arrive after the deadline will not be accepted. Independent experts, along with the commission, will select the best entries.

People’s News Monitoring Service

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