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Statute talks unlikely before Koirala’s return

Formal cross-party negotiations are unlikely to resume before the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s return from Indonesia, leaders said. Statute talks unlikely before Koirala’s return

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Published at : April 25, 2015

Kathmandu

Even as Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nembang has set April 29 as recent deadline to seek consensus on federalism, formal cross-party negotiations are unlikely to resume before the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s return from Indonesia, leaders said.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who is currently in Indonesia to attend the

Asian African Summit, is scheduled to return on Tuesday. “Informal meetings could take place but there is less possibility of formal negotiations before PM’s arrival,” said Nepali Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka.

Nembang has called the CA meetings for Friday after major parties’ rounds of talks failed to reach any conclusion. Second-rung leaders involved in talks said the Maoist leaders are reluctant to sit for talks with UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli in the absence of PM Koirala.

“They complained that Oli is not flexible in negotiations and attacks verbally during discussions,” a UML leader said, adding, “So, I see less possibility of top leaders’ meeting before the PM returns.”

The differences within Nepali Congress on who should lead the party in cross-party meeting have also lowered chances of initiating discussions right now. In his absence, PM Koirala is said to have entrusted party Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel to hold discussions with the top leaders of the UML and the UCPN (Maoist). NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula and senior party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba are also claiming that they should represent the

NC during cross-party negotiations.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is also under pressure to stay away from talks row as leaders from 30-party opposition alliance, particularly those representing the Madhes-based parties, continue to press him not to compromise on their stance against including Jhapa, Morang, Sunari, Kailali and Kanchanpur with hilly region.

As parties failed to forge consensus on federalism, the constitution drafting process has come to halt for the past three months despite having resolving all other issues. Leaders privy to negotiations said parties have narrowed down their differences on electoral system.

“The Maoists are demanding that 40 percent seats in Lower House should be elected through proportional representation system and 60 percent through first-past-the-post model while ruling parties are ready to elect 35 percent of

representatives through proportional representation system,” a leader said adding that the Maoists have also sought assurance of not initiating war-era cases.