गभर्नर नियुक्तिमा प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीको हस्तक्षेप, विश्वनाथ पौडेलप्रति असहमतिGovernor Appointment in Limbo as PM Oli Opposes Dr. Bishwanath Paudel’s Nomination
काठमाडौं । नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंकको गभर्नर नियुक्ति प्रक्रिया फेरि एकपटक अन्योलमा परेको छ । प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओली गभर्नरका लागि डा. विश्वनाथ पौडेलको नाममा सहमति जनाउन तयार नरहेको प्रस्ट भएको छ ।
छनोट समितिबाट पौडेलसहित तीनजना उम्मेदवारको नाम सिफारिस गर्ने तयारी भइरहँदा प्रधानमन्त्रीले संयोजक विष्णुप्रसाद पौडेललाई “आफ्नो रोजाइको नाममात्र ल्याउनू” भन्दै निर्देशन दिएपछि पूरा प्रक्रिया अवरुद्ध भएको हो ।
हालै प्रधानमन्त्री ओली र कांग्रेस सभापति शेरबहादुर देउवा बीच डा. पौडेललाई ‘साझा उम्मेदवार’ बनाउने समझदारी भएको चर्चा थियो । तर अन्तिम समयमा ओलीले ती समझदारीबाट पछि हट्दै पौडेलको नाम स्वीकार्न अस्वीकार गरेका हुन् ।
सूत्रका अनुसार प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले देउवालाई फोन गर्दै “पौडेलको विषयमा मुद्दा उठ्न सक्छ” भन्दै अन्य विकल्प खोज्न अनुरोध गरेका थिए । तर देउवाले “मुद्दा परे पनि वाचा तोड्न मिल्दैन, पौडेललाई नै गभर्नर बनाउनु पर्छ” भन्ने धारणा राखे । ओली भने “व्यक्तिगत व्यवहार ठीक नभएको” भन्दै पौडेलप्रति असन्तुष्टि जनाइरहेका छन् ।
यसकारण सोमबारका लागि तय गरिएको गभर्नर नियुक्तिको प्रक्रिया एकाएक रोकिएको छ । ओलीले कुन व्यक्तिलाई गभर्नर बनाउन चाहेका हुन् भन्ने अझै खुलाइएको छैन ।
यसअघि पनि प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले देउवाको प्रस्तावमा राष्ट्र बैंकका पूर्व कार्यकारी निर्देशक गुणाकर भट्टलाई अघि बढाउने प्रक्रिया चल्दा अन्तिम समयमा रोकिदिएका थिए । अहिले पनि उस्तै ढंगले समितिका संयोजकमाथि दबाब दिँदै, “मेरो चाहना अनुसारको नाममात्र सिफारिस होस्” भन्ने अडान लिएको बताइएको छ ।
यो घटनाक्रमले देखाउँछ कि गभर्नर जस्तो महत्वपूर्ण पदमा नियुक्ति गर्दा राजनीतिक सहमतिभन्दा बढी व्यक्तिगत चासो प्रभावकारी भइरहेको छ — जसले मुलुकको केन्द्रीय बैंकको नेतृत्व चयनमा पारदर्शिता र विश्वसनीयता माथि प्रश्न उठाएको छ ।
Kathmandu – The process of appointing the next Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank has hit a roadblock as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has reportedly refused to approve the candidacy of economist Dr. Bishwanath Paudel under any circumstances.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the selection committee had been preparing to recommend three names for the position, including Dr. Paudel. However, PM Oli intervened at the last moment, instructing committee coordinator Bishnu Prasad Paudel to only submit the names personally approved by him — effectively halting the entire process.
While earlier discussions had suggested a mutual understanding between PM Oli and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba to appoint Dr. Paudel as a consensus candidate, the Prime Minister’s recent change of stance has created friction between the two leaders.
Reportedly, PM Oli raised concerns that legal complications might arise from appointing Paudel, suggesting an alternative candidate should be considered. However, Deuba is said to have insisted on standing by their agreement, reportedly telling Oli, “Cases may come and go — we must stick to our word.”
PM Oli, on the other hand, is said to be firmly against appointing someone he reportedly doesn’t have a personal rapport with, which has led to the indefinite suspension of the appointment process that was expected to be finalized on Monday.
Despite repeated questions, PM Oli has not publicly disclosed who his preferred candidate for Governor is. His continued insistence on overriding previous agreements has sparked criticism within political circles, particularly from the Nepali Congress.
This is not the first time such disagreements have arisen. Previously, Deuba had backed former executive director Gunakar Bhatta for the Governor role, even securing his resignation from the post — but Oli eventually rejected that move as well.
Currently, the selection committee is under pressure from the Prime Minister to present only those names that align with his choice. This has raised serious concerns about political interference in the central bank’s leadership and the lack of transparency in such critical national appointments.
