The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML also urged the opposition parties to let them begin the voting process in the Constituent Assembly to settle the disputed issues of constitution writing.

Speaking on the report presented by the Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee, NC and UML leaders said they cannot agree to the demand for autonomous Madhes region.

There is no point in holding discussion on the matter, said NC Vice-chairman Ram Chandra Poudel. He, however, added that they were ready to adopt flexibility on the forms of government, judiciary and electoral system.

The CA process should not be arrested indefinitely in the name of consensus, Poudel said, stating that foreign diplomats and international community were against the CA process for constitution drafting as they “do not know the reality of Nepali politics”.

During his recent visit, UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman had urged Nepal’s political leaders to draft the constitution based on a broad consensus and compromise. Similar advice had come from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier.

Meanwhile, UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal blamed the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties for the political deadlock. He said the entire Tarai region could not be made a single state as demanded by the Madhesi parties.

Khanal reminded UCPN (Maoist) leaders of their promise made to voters to follow the due CA process if consensus could not be reached on the disputed issues.

Opposition leaders demanded that consensus efforts should continue until the

last minute.

UCPN (Maoist) leader Baburam Bhattarai, who is the PDCC chairman, noted that the parties were close to consensus on electoral system and judiciary, and that they should devote more time to negotiations.

Discussion on the report will continue on Saturday as well. Though CA Chairman Subas Nembang is against prolonging the debate, there are many members form opposition parties who want to speak on the report.

The ruling parties are preparing to table a special proposal, demanding that the

CA instruct its Drafting Committee to prepare the preliminary draft of the constitution.

Sticking points

-    Leaders of the ruling parties see no point discussing the opposition demand for ethnicity-based federalism

-    Maoist and Madhesi leaders say consensus bid should continue until the last minute