With the main opposition CPN-UML continuing to obstruct Parliament proceedings and deciding to intensify protests against the constitution amendment bill, the fate of the proposal hangs in balance, leaving the ruling coalition itself at odds.

Two ruling coalition partners—CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress—have different takes on what should be done with the amendment bill that the government had registered on November 29 to bring the Madhes-based parties on board.

The Nepali Congress remains adamant on tabling the amendment bill and having deliberations on it before putting it to vote. 

Former NC vice-chairman Gopalman Shrestha said that the bill was registered with the primary purpose of taking into confidence the Madhes-based parties with an intention to hold elections. 

“All three parties have already decided to hold local polls as soon as possible. But it is also necessary to ensure the participation of the disgruntled forces. We will need to find a middle way through talks,” he said.

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday came down heavily on the CPN-UML for bringing the constitution implementation process to a standstill by outrightly rejecting the amendment bill. 

“The bill will not be withdrawn at any cost,” Deuba said, while talking to reporters in Chitwan. “If they do not support the bill, it is their loss.”

The situation in the NC is not as straightforward, though. A few senior leaders of the party have expressed their reservations over government’s plan to change the federal boundaries of Province 5 through the amendment bill. 

NC General Secretary Sashank Koirala has said that the leadership failed to hold adequate discussions within the party to take everyone into confidence before tabling the amendment bill.

However, as reports surfaced that the three major parties had reached an understanding to put the constitution amendment bill on hold and go for the local elections, the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, took strong exception to the move. 

They have threatened to announce protests if the government announces dates for local polls without addressing the concerns of the agitating forces.

Maoist Centre leaders, on the other hand, are skeptical about the chances of passing the amendment bill if it is put to vote in Parliament as the Madhes-based parties and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party have rejected the bill in its present form.

Maoist Centre Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the government under their leadership tabled the bill in Parliament with an intention to pass it before going for polls. He claimed that if the Madhes-based parties were ready to support the bill, the amendment bill would not have faced uncertainty. 

“If the Madhesi parties and RPP are positive on making changes to the amendment bill before putting it to vote, we could still have a different scenario,” Shrestha said. 

“But as the Madhes-based forces say the bill does little to address their demands and the RPP thinks it unduly favours the parties from the plains, we do not see any chances of passing the bill.”