Preliminary deliberations on the first amendment of the Constitution of Nepal began on Monday amid sloganeering from lawmakers from the Samyukta Lokatantrik Madhesi Morcha, which has been objecting to the government move of tabling the Constitution Amendment Bill in Parliament.

The government on December 15 tabled the amendment bill along with the Reconstruction Authority Bill at the call of the main opposition Nepali Congress. The Morcha, however, was only for tabling the Reconstruction Authority Bill, saying that the amendment bill “does not address” its concerns.

Leaders of three major parties, who are holding negotiations with Morcha leaders, however, pushed the deliberations on the bill through in Parliament on Monday,

almost two weeks after the bill was tabled.

The deliberations are likely to continue for an extended period of time as both sides are “working to strike a deal”.

If the negotiations fail to yield desired results, the major parties could decide to proceed further without the consent from the Morcha, leaders from the ruling parties say.

A source close to Speaker Onsari Gharti also said that the amendment process would depend on how the talks with the Morcha unfold in the next couple of days. Number of lawmakers wanting to take part in the deliberations will also be a crucial factor in deciding for how long the deliberations will continue.

During Monday’s discussion, only two lawmakers

participated in the discussion as per the agreement among the whips of major parties “to go slow” on deliberations so as to allow more time for negotiations.

During a meeting of

the Business Advisory Committee, the whips

had agreed to start deliberations on Monday “only as a formality”.

Deliberations on the amendment bill have started but won’t end immediately so that negotiations could continue, said Hit Raj Pandey, UCPN (Maoist) whip. “We hope to garner maximum support from the Madhesi parties,” he added.

The major parties have also agreed not to send the bill to the Legislation Committee, saying that the House itself will resolve the points of disagreement, language and content of the amendment bill. Instead, 72 hours will be given to register a revision proposal after theoretical discussions are completed, said Gokul Gharti, UML whip.

On Monday, Keshav Badal of the CPN-UML and Gauri Shankar Chaudhary of the UCPN (Maoist) participated in the discussion, as lawmakers from the Madhes-based parties shouted slogans.

Marshals cordoned off around a dozen lawmakers from the disgruntled parties and Speaker Gharti continued with House proceedings.

The Sushil Koirala-led government on October 8 had registered the amendment bill in Parliament, seeking to amend Articles 42, 84 and 286 of the Constitution of Nepal to ensure proportional inclusive representation of the marginalised communities in state bodies and delineation of electoral constituencies prioritising population, with at least one electoral constituency in each district.

The protesting parties, however, have been demanding that population should be sole basis for delineation of electoral constituencies.

Big 3 agree not to give up on talks

KATHMANDU: Though the major parties—Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)—have decided to start deliberations on the Constitution Amendment Bill, they have said that they will continue discussions with the Madhes-based parties simultaneously.

During a meeting of the major parties in Baluwatar on Monday, top leaders decided to amend the Constitution of Nepal as per the spirit of the Interim Constitution on redrawing electoral constituencies and inclusive proportional representation of ethnic minorities in various state organs.

Leaders claimed that moving ahead “in the spirit of the Interim Constitution could pave the way for an early political settlement”

“We have concluded that if we continue with the provisions of the Interim Constitution on inclusive representation, we can find a point of compromise,” said UCPN (M) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

The major parties have also intensified talks to address the 11-point demand of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha. “We have offered formation of a small taskforce to resolve the outstanding issues,” said NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat.

The proposed taskforce will work on a concept that is agreeable to all sides, he added. “But we are yet to decide on the strength of the taskforce.” (PR)

Oli calls for flexibility

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli on Monday called for flexibility from all sides to resolve the ongoing crisis. “If all the sides show flexibility, the problems can be resolved in a couple of days,” said PM Oli while receiving a memorandum submitted by the Reporters’ Club Nepal. “A meeting of the CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and the Nepali Congress on Monday morning has decided to move ahead by preparing a common position to resolve the problems that have surfaced in Tarai-Madhes,” said Oli. “Federal boundaries could be redrawn and names could be changed on the basis of necessity,” said Oli, urging the Madhes-based parties to withdraw their ongoing protests. On criticisms in social media for government’s failure to perform and his decision to expand the Cabinet “on a whim”, Oli defended his move terming it a compulsion as he is leading a coalition government.