Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba claimed on Tuesday that the constitution amendment bill would be approved without revision and with the backing of the CPN-UML that has been protesting against the proposal.

“I believe that the UML will support the bill at last,” he told reporters at his residence in Budhanilkantha. Deuba stressed the need for consensus among the parties to preserve the political gains of the past decade. “It’s our responsibility to preserve the achievements. But we need consensus among the parties to end the political stalemate.”

The UML will allow parliamentary business from Sunday, he said, without specifying how the ruling coalition would take the opposition into confidence.

On the elections, Deuba said the government was prepared to hold the local polls by May. “We have talked to the Election Commission. It is feasible to hold the polls within the next four months.”