A meeting of the ruling alliance held at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s official residence in Baluwatar reached an understanding on Friday to  put the disputes to vote, if consensus efforts go futile.

The ruling parties have agreed to begin the talks with the Maoist on Saturday, before approaching the Madhesi parties. They plan to complete the negotiations by Monday.  

The NC and the UML have said the constitution writing process could be complicated with rightist and ultra-leftist forces emerging stronger against the backdrop of the parties’ failure to institutionalise the achievements such as federalism, republicanism and secularism.

NC leader Purna Bahadur Khadka said the ruling parties were working hard to ensure timely promulgation of the new constitution by adopting all possible measures.  “We are holding talks with the Maoists tomorrow at 10am,” he said.

UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli tweeted: “Nepali Congress and UML decided to hold decisive talks for consensus from tomorrow and promulgate new constitution through voting if consensus cannot be reached.”

Major parties are still divided over the key constitutional issues—federalism, forms of government and election and the judiciary.  Lately, the parties are at odds over the procedure to settle the contention, with the ruling parties advocating voting in the Constitution Assembly and the opposition insisting on consensus. They are also divided over whether to resend the disputed issues to the Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the CA for solution, as demanded by the opposition parties.

The CA had earlier instructed the PDCC to come up with questionnaires on disputed issues if consensus could not be formed. The leaders at the cross-party committee however had agreed to send all the proposals tabled at the PDCC with an understanding not to put them to vote.

On the forms of government, the two largest parties have proposed reformed parliamentary system, while the Maoists have made a fresh pledge for directly-elected President as the executive head. Earlier, the parties had reached a tentative understanding to adopt improved parliamentary system, wherein some powers would be shared between the President and the prime minister.

On state restructuring, the parties are at loggerheads over federal delineation of five Madhes-based districts: Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari in the eastern region, and Kailali and Kachanpur in the Far West.

The ruling coalition has proposed federating the country into seven-provinces by combining these districts with hill districts, a position unacceptable to the regional parties.

Oppn front warns of protest

Protests if NC, UML are inflexible: FDRA

The UCPN (Maoist)-led Federal Democratic Republican Alliance has warned of stern protests if the ruling parties—Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—do not show flexibility in the constitution drafting process. The front said it would come up with a ‘bottom line’ regarding the contentious issues and hold clear discussions with the ruling parties.

“All the parties should come forward by making their positions clear on the constitution drafting within January 22,” said UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha after the front’s meeting on Friday. “We are doubtful if the NC and UML are lingering. There should be clarity to achieve consensus.” He said parties affiliated to the front are holding discussions to come up with a ‘bottom line’ for consensus.

“Seven parties of the alliance held a meeting today. We will hold meeting with 20 parties tomorrow and the next day with all 22 parties,” Shrestha said, adding that if NC and UML do not come to a consensus then there is no alternative to protests. Leaders of the alliance said consensus should be reached only after guaranteeing federalism, secularism, inclusiveness and proportional representation in the interim constitution. Meanwhile, Nepal Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karn said the front is in favour of restructuring the nation according to previous agreements and Article 138 (1) (A) of the Interim Constitution. He said the front is in favour of the provision for Constitutional Court. “The front would resort to protests if NC and UML backtrack,” he said.

Leaders from the UCPN (M), five Madhes-based parties and Federal Socialist Party attended the meeting.