As crisis worsens in Tarai, three major parties are proactively looking to address preconditions of agitating parties and other groups through a statement of intent to be delivered by their top leaders in the Constituent Assembly (CA) on Sunday.

The  statement, according to informed leaders, could focus on issues of proportional representation of Madhesi and other marginalised communities and constituency in state mechanisms.

“In their speeches, the party chiefs will express commitment for addressing the concerns raised by Madhesi and other communities in accordance with the past agreements and Interim Constitution,” said Nepali Congress leader Purna Bahadur Khadka.

NC President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal are scheduled to address the CA on Sunday afternoon before a scheduled clause-wise voting on draft constitution starts. If informal talks progress well, representatives from the disgruntled Madhesi parties and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal could address the CA alongside the three party leaders as a sign of rapproachment. The statement of intent could also include assurances to delineate electoral constituency proportionally based on population.

Contrary to demands of the Madhes-based parties, the draft constitution has a provision that election constituencies be fixed based on geography and population.  

UML leader Gokarna Bista said that the picture will be clearer once formal talks begin on Sunday morning, before the resumption of the CA meeting. Three major parties could put together a more ‘accommodating statement’ based on progress of the talks, according to leaders.

Though informal discussions are underway at various levels, no concrete progress has been reported by the time we went to the press. Having reached a conclusion that it is not possible to meet all the demands of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), the major parties are now trying to bring the Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik on board by addressing his concerns.

On the MJF-L demands, the NC and CPN-UML said that they are ready to mention categorically that disputes over Kailali district will be resolved after the federal commission presents its report. Gachhadar has taken this offer positively and has sought time to consult with his party leaders, one leader said.

RPP-N to rejoin statute drafting process

KATHMANDU: Three days after walking out of the constitution drafting process, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) on Saturday decided to rejoin the process saying the letter from three parties had created a positive environment.

The party’s Central Working Committee meeting rolled back its previous decision after three major parties requested to put its concerns in the Constituent Assembly (CA). Blaming the major parties of monopolising the constitution making, the RPP-N had walked out of the process on Wednesday. Following the decision, the three parties held a meeting with the RPP-N on Friday.  (PR)