After days of confusion, the government on Tuesday registered a constitution amendment proposal at the Parliament Secretariat, seeking to change four constitutional provisions. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s Chief Political Adviser Chakrapani Khanal said the amendment proposal was registered after all major political parties save the main opposition CPN-UML expressed readiness to support it. 

PM Dahal on Tuesday afternoon had held discussions with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Kamal Thapa before putting the amendment proposal before the Cabinet meeting at Baluwatar for approval. 

In the morning, PM Dahal, while addressing his party’s politburo meeting, had said the government was all set to register the amendment proposal “as the Madhes-based parties were ready to take part in the elections irrespective of the fate of the amendment proposal in Parliament”. 

According to Maoist leader Mani Thapa, Dahal told the meeting that discussions would continue with the main opposition and disgruntled Madhesi and Janajati forces even after the registration of the amendment proposal to forge consensus to get it endorsed by Parliament.

Dahal also briefed the politburo meeting about the talks he had held with Naya Shakti Nepal’s coordinator Baburam Bhattarai and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav.

The UML said that the government move of registering the proposal would invite political conflict and social tension. “We had requested the government not to register the proposal. We will counter the government’s move and take legal course if required,” said UML Secretary Pradip Gyawali. “We will oppose the government move from the public’s level as well as in Parliament,” he said.

Provisions to be amended

- ON DEMARCATION: The government has proposed incorporating Rolpa, Pyuthan, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Palpa, half of Rukum and half of Nawalparasi of Province 5 in Province 4. Province 4 will have 17 districts and Province 5 will have six districts including half Nawalparasi

- ON LANGAUGE: Enlisting all the mother tongues of the country, the language commission will make recommendation to the government. The government will enlist all the mother tongues and official languages recommended by the commission in the schedule of the constitution 

- ON CITIZENSHIP: Foreign women married to Nepali men can acquire naturalised citizenship as per the federal laws after starting the process to renounce her previous citizenship.

- ON REPRESENTATION IN UPPER HOUSE: Three each from all seven provinces, including one woman, one Dalit and one differently-abled will be in the Upper House. Other 35 members would be elected on the basis of population. Among the 35 members to be elected on the basis of population, 14 women should be elected as per the federal laws