The second deadline, which was extended earlier this week, given to the Constituent Assembly (CA)’s Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee is expiring today. 

The major three parties—Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)—have been attempting to reach common ground on four issues including state restructuring, forms of governance, electoral system and judicial system to be adopted in the new constitution.

The three parties have been continuously holding parleys to forge consensus on the disputed issues.

“At today’s meeting, the parties decided to submit a report mentioning that they have not deviated from their understanding to forge consensus on the disputed issues of new constitution,” said UCPN (M) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha. 

After the parties failed to meet the second deadline, the CA had sent the report to its committee, asking either to settle the disputes at the political level or initiate voting on prickly issues.

If the CA committee fails to strike a deal by this evening, it is required to present a questionnaire on the disputed issues so that they may be put to vote in the CA. But the parties are still divided whether to ask for more time to forge consensus on the disputed issues or go for voting.

“We are making efforts though dialogue and parleys to forge consensus on the four disputed issues of constitution writing,” said leader Shrestha.

NC President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, General Secretary Krishna Sitaula, Law Minister Nara Hari Acharya, senior leader of CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal, UML Vice Chairperson Bidya Bhandari, and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior leader Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha were present during the meting.

At today’s meeting CA Chairman Subas Nembang was invited.

Likewise, NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that the parties have been making utmost efforts to forge consensus on the disputed issues.