With the promulgation of new constitution, the major parties have now riveted their attention on the second biggest agenda—formation of new government—to reach a consensus in completing the remaining task of the new charter.

The new constitution has a provision to elect five key positions—president, vice-president, prime minister, speaker and deputy-speaker within the given time frames.  As per constitutional provisions, the parties have to promulgate new prime minister within seven days from the promulgation of new constitution provided Parliament is in session.

Keeping Prime Minister Sushil Koirala’s scheduled New York visit for attending United Nations General Assembly this week, the parties have agreed to close House session on Saturday.

As per the recommendation of PM Koirala, President Ram Baran Yadav dispatched a letter to the Legislature-Parliament stating that the current session of Parliament has been ended to be effective from Saturday.

Although the ruling UML has reservations to closure of the House session, the party has not expressed it publicly in view of taking the reins of an all-party government in the coming days. “The major parties have no other alternatives but work jointly after the promulgation of new constitution,” said UML Chief Whip Agni Kharel.

PM Koirala is scheduled to leave for New York on September 22 and address the UN General Assembly on September 26. After PM Koirala’s return, a House session will be called and selection process begins for the new head of government. Similarly, Parliament has to elect new speaker and deputy speaker within 20 days of calling House session and President and Vice President within a month.

Before signing the 16-point agreement, the major partis had reached an understanding on forming a consensus government under the UML leadership to ease implementation of the new constitution.

The UML has already fielded party Chairman and Parliamentary Party leader KP Oli as a new prime minister. An informed UML source said the presidential position is likely to be allocated to the Nepali Congress with the post of Speaker going to the Maoist party if the major parites agree on the consensus government. The remaining positions will be allocated to smaller parties joining the new government.

Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka said the power-sharing deal will be pushed ahead after PM Koirala’s visit to the UNGA.

Leaders involved in the constitution writing process hinted that the major parties would stay together

while forming the new government. “It will be easier to implement the new constitution only when all of us stay united in the government,” said Kharel.