Even as the nation gears up for a new government under the left alliance, the Nepali Congress-led ‘caretaker’ government has made a number of political appointments drawing sharp criticism from the CPN-UML.

A Cabinet meeting of Monday decided to appoint Basanta Prakash Upadhyay as general manager of the Gorkhapatra Sansthan and Nikita Poudel as chairperson of the Film Development Board.

Minister for Urban Planning Dilnath Giri said another the next Cabinet meeting would make a decision on headquarters of the seven provinces and their chiefs.

Reaction of the UML, which has secured a majority vote in the federal parliament and provincial assembly polls, was swift warning the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government that such decisions are against people’s mandate.

“Our party has been seriously concerned over the political appointments made by the caretaker government immediately after the federal parliament and provincial assembly elections,” said UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel in a statement, adding that such decisions would be revoked by the upcoming government.

Also expressing concern over the government’s preparations to pick chiefs of the provinces and provincial headquarters, the UML has warned the concerned civil servants not to be engaged in such decisions.

According to Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Yagya Bahadur Thapa, the next Cabinet meeting of Thursday would make temporary arrangements of provincial headquarters. “As most headquarters have almost been finalised, there won’t be any controversy,” said Minister Thapa.

However, disputes remain over the choice of provincial capitals, especially in Province 5 and Province 7. Butwal and Dang are staking claims for Province 5, while Dipayal and Dhangadhi are vying for Province 7.

Asked how the government could take such decisions without consulting the

major parties, Minister Thapa said the Cabinet “will not appoint political people but non-political ones so that they will not create any controversy”.

Also on Monday, the government also extended the term of three Nepal Army generals.

The Cabinet meeting held at Singh Durbar decided to extend the term of Brigadier Generals Damodar Thapa and Nabajit Shumsher JB Rana and Major General Yogendra Bahadur Khand, said government’s Spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet.