Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held crucial talks at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar amid ongoing tensions within the ruling coalition over the delayed appointment of the Nepal Rastra Bank Governor.
The meeting, which also included Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, focused on finalizing the governor appointment process, as well as other pressing national issues including the upcoming budget announcement scheduled for Jestha 15, parliamentary effectiveness, and broader political concerns.
Although the meeting was originally scheduled for Monday evening, it was postponed due to PM Oli’s health. Today’s dialogue, described as part of routine coordination by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, comes at a time when frustrations have been mounting within the coalition, particularly from the Nepali Congress side.
The central bank’s governor post has remained vacant since Chaitra 24. While both Oli and Deuba have reiterated that the appointment will be made through mutual consensus, the recommendation committee—led by Finance Minister Paudel and including former NRB Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari and economist Dr. Posh Raj Pandey—has yet to meet formally.
Sources indicate that today’s meeting may pave the way for activating the recommendation committee and moving forward with the appointment process in the coming days. The governor’s role is critical as the country prepares for its annual budget and navigates key monetary and fiscal challenges.
