While the UML and the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction of the NC are insisting that the first draft of the constitution should be issued by mid-July, the NC faction led by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala say the proposed date is not a definitive deadline because there are “some key steps” that must be followed in the drafting process which could take some time.

NC leaders close to the Koirala camp say processes like deliberations of reports in the full House and collection of pubic feedback can take time and these steps should not be compromised in the name of fast-tracking the constitution drafting.

NC Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha said there shouldn’t even be a debate regarding new calendar because the CA process has already been fixed in the rules of procedures.

“After the full House endorses the first draft of the constitution, the Committee on Citizens Relation and Public Opinion Collection will take 15 days to collect the opinion of people on the draft of constitution,” said Shrestha, explaining that meeting the mid-July target is practically impossible.

UML leader Pradeep Gyawali, however, said that the parties had agreed to fast-track the process in the 16-point deal reached on the night of June 8, and it was indeed possible to promulgate the first draft of the constitution by mid-July.

The UML and the Deuba-faction of the NC say that Koirala and his supporters are trying to prolong the term of the incumbent government by refusing to accept the date.

Also, the Deuba camp wants early exit of Koirala from the government, considering the upcoming NC general convention.

In his interview with the Kantipur Television on Monday night, Koirala had said that though he was in favour of adopting fast-track approach to draft the constitution, he was not okay with the idea of compromising the procedures just to cut corners.

Pact won’t yield constitution: Baidya

KAVRE: CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya has claimed that the 16-point agreement among Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum- Loktantrik will not yield a new constitution. The only way to ensure the promulgation of the constitution is an all-party political conference, he told reporters in Kavre district on Tuesday. Baidya also said that the UCPN (Maoist), which had led the alliance of which CPN Maoist was a member, betrayed its allies by becoming a signatory to the 16-point deal. (PR)

16-point deal challenged in Supreme Court

Advocate Bijaya Kant Karna has filed a petition at the Supreme Court challenging the 16-point agreement signed by the four major political parties to resolve the contentious issues of constitution writing.

Among the agreements reached on the night of June 8, Karna has claimed in his petition the first seven are against the Interim Constitution.

According to Karna, the propositions made by points (1), (2), and (3) of the agreement to form a Federal Commission to demarcate the borders of the provinces on the basis of which the two-thirds majority at Parliament would take the final decision goes against the Interim Constitution.

Similarly, Karna has also challenged the point (5) of the agreement, claiming that it is against the principle of equality and democracy. He has said the agreement on 275-member House of Representatives cannot be based on geography. If the determination is made on the basis of geography, Karna has claimed that the votes cast by some will bear more importance and significance while votes by some other will be of lesser importance.

The court had earlier refused to register the petition which has named the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers as the defendant.