The report, which was presented for voting after deliberation in the CA, was endorsed by a thumping majority. The CA has given the Drafting Committee led by Nepali Congress leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula 15 days to submit the first draft.

As the committee has already put together issues agreed upon earlier, the first draft is expected to be completed within two weeks. The draft will then be taken to the people for feedback.

Except for the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, which has registered a nine-point note of dissent on the 16-point deal between the four major parties, all the parties voted for the report.

PDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai had presented the report for approval. There are 32 parties in the Assembly.

Five fringe regional parties, however, boycotted the meeting without attending the discussion. They said that the decision on federalism as envisioned in the 16-point deal has betrayed the Madhesi and Janajati people.

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Sanghiya Samajbadi Party, Sadbhawana Party and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party walked out of the meeting after MJF-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav addressed the CA on their behalf.

Presenting the report for approval, Bhattarai said the PDCC had worked hard to sort out the contentious issues. He said efforts would be made to address the concerns of the disgruntled parties while giving the draft its final shape.

The PDCC on Thursday had submitted a consensus report on the disputed statute agendas to the CA. Lawmakers from the parties that were not part of the 16-point deal said though they disagree with the major parties’ approach, they would provide constructive support to the drafting process. “Our party is against the deal which bypassed our agendas of Hindu state and constitutional monarchy. However, we will accept the constitution,” said RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa.

A total of 13 parties including the UCPN (Maoist) and two NC lawmakers—Gagan Thapa and Amaresh Kumar Singh—registered their notes of dissent against the report.