Three major parties on Friday postponed the constitution drafting process for two days in their last ditch effort to bring the agitating political forces, including Madhesis and Tharus to the negotiating table.

 The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) also renewed their calls to the agitating Madhesi and Tharu groups for talks, stressing that the current political and constitutional standoff can only be resolved through dialogue.

The Constituent Assembly was scheduled to start a clause-wise voting on modified draft constitution bill on Friday.

After a six-hour meeting at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s official residence in Baluwatar, the major political parties decided to postpone the statute drafting process until Sunday 11am.

As demanded by the agitating parties, the meeting also decided to induct proportional inclusiveness in the new constitution under the article of social justice. In the face of violent protests in Tarai and mounting pressure from national and international stakeholders, the three major parties were forced to halt the drafting process after their joint appeal on Wednesday for talks did not yield positive outcome. The NC and Maoists were also under pressure from their own Madhesi lawmakers who have been asking their party leadership to pause the drafting process.

According to Maoist Vice-chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the meeting decided to bring together the political parties represented in the first CA process, and those involved in the current drafting process and agitating Madhesi and Tharu groups. “We also urged the agitating parties to sit for talks as one of their major demands has been fulfilled,” said Shrestha.

In the meeting, PM Koirala proposed postponing the statute drafting process for 5-7 days but CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and NC Secretary General Krishna Prasad Sitaula opposed the idea. It was Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal who tabled the proposal to halt the process for two days, according to  leaders. “Koirala was positive to the demand of the agitating Madhesis and Tharus which made possible to take the decision,” said a leader, who was present in the meeting. UML top brass, including Chairman Oli, argued that the Madhesis would not come for talks at any cost saying that it would be futile to wait for the sake of talks as PM had already sent two letters to them. “This is the last call for talks,” said UML Vice-chairman Bhim Rawal, coming out from the meeting. He added that the constitution drafting process will resume on Sunday afternoon when the voting on various amendment proposals in the draft constitution will take place.  

As the constitution drafting process enters the last leg, dissatisfaction over the seven-province model has sparked violence in the southern plains and other parts of the country, leaving more than three dozen dead over a month.