Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Wednesday that the draft of the constitution amendment proposal was almost ready and that the government was working to forge consensus among major parties and the agitating forces before tabling it in Parliament.

“The draft of the constitution amendment proposal is in the final stage,” said PM Dahal while addressing Parliament, adding that the government was working to register an amendment bill before the Chhath festival.

Chhath will be observed on November 6.

PM Dahal’s fresh assurance through Parliament follows the agitating Madhes-based parties’ warning that they would not wait beyond Chhath.

Accusing the government of failing to recognise the seriousness of their demands, the Madhes-based parties have warned of withdrawing support to the Dahal government and launching protests after Chhath.

A three-point agreement reached among the CPN (Maoist Centre), the Nepali Congress and the agitating Madhes-based parties on August 3, the day Dahal was elected prime minister, said the new government would address the concerns raised by the Madhesi and Janajati forces as soon as possible through an amendment to the constitution.

Earlier, the government was said to be preparing to register the amendment proposal before Dahal’s India visit which took place on September 15-19.

But that did not happen.

Later it was said the government would table the proposal before Dashain. Now, PM Dahal’s pledge to do so before Chhath has failed to convince the Madhes-based parties.

On Wednesday, Dahal told Parliament that the government’s top priority was holding three elections after forging consensus among the ruling, opposition and agitating parties on amending the constitution so as to ensure wider acceptance of the constitution.

PM Dahal on Wednesday also briefed the House on government’s activities and his recent trip to Goa, India.

About his recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Goa, India, on the sidelines of Brics-Bimstec Outreach Summit, PM Dahal said the Chinese president told him that he would not be able to manage time this year but would visit Nepal soon.