The big three political parties failed to arrive at consensus to take ahead the constitution amendment bill registered at the Legislature-Parliament. 

A meeting between the big three parties—Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre—could not make headway on Monday after the parties stuck to their respective stances.

“The parliament deadlock will end as soon as the government withdraws the constitution amendment bill and the country will head for election,” said CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, taking to media after the meeting.  The CPN-UML has been demanding the government withdraw the constitution amendment bill or put it on hold in order to resume the parliamentary proceedings. 

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Ram Chandra Poudel said the talks will continue as the issue of taking ahead the constitution amendment bill has not been finalised. Asked if the amendment bill will be tabled at the parliament today, Poudel said it’s the call of House Speaker.

CPN-UML Vice Chairman Bam Dev Gautam blamed the ruling parties for obstructing the House, saying that the UML wouldn’t block the parliament if the amendment bill was withdrawn or put on hold.

Talking briefly to media persons, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba expressed optimism that the stalemate would end soon as they have been making efforts towards that end.

Leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties have intensified talks in a bid to end the deadlock over the constitution amendment bill. The CPN-UML has been strongly opposing the constitution amendment bill.