According to Bhattarai's personal aide Bishwa Deep Pandey, the Maoist leader's decision to shun foreign junket would be effective from Tuesday itself. "Leader Baburam Bhattarai will not make any foreign visits effective from today until the promulgation of the new constitution through the CA," read the SMS message circulated by Pandey to the press today.

The UCPN (Maoist) senior leader returned from a week-long visit to China today. Former Prime Minister Bhattarai is the chairman of the Constitutional and Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the CA.

Bhattarai's announcement comes at a time when CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang has been expressing concerns over the foreign trips undertaken by CA members. Nembang is preparing to summon foreign-based Nepali envoys and urge them to not invite the CA members for foreign visits.