Chances of resolving the differences over the parliamentary regulations through consensus have diminised considerably with a meeting of top leaders from the major political parties at Baluwatar ending inconclusively for the second consecutive day on Sunday.

As the ruling and opposition parties remain adamant to their stand over the size of Parliamentary Hearing Committee, it is most likely that a decision on the  regulation will be taken by full House through the voting, leaders from the ruling parties say.

The regulation drafting, which had started six months ago, has yet to get the final shape with the ruling and opposition parties struggling to find a common ground on the strength of the committee. The main opposition Nepali Congress along with other fringe parties wants to give continuity to the 73-member hearing committee, while the CPN-UML-led ruling alliance is in favour of reducing its size as provisioned in the new constitution. The new charter envisages a 15-member hearing committee.

“There was no headway even today (Sunday). Now there is a slim chance that the parties will resolve the issue through consensus,” said Chief Whip of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Yogendra Chaudhary, who was present in the meeting. He said that the meeting has tasked PM Oli and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba to resolve the issue. The meeting called by PM Oli on Saturday too failed to find a common ground on the dispute.

At Sunday’s meeting, NC leaders reiterated that as the present Parliament is the continuation of Constituent Assembly the constitutional provision of the 15-member committee will be applicable only after the election of federal legislature. However, the ruling alliance said it cannot agree on the 73-member committee as it would be an unconstitutional decision. “It would give a negative message if I agree on continuation of 73-member committee which contradicts with the constitution,” Chaudhary quoted PM Oli as saying. However, the NC did not buy his argument.

“We are still in the transition, therefore it’s illogical to argue for 15-member committee,” NC Chief Whip Chin Kaji Shrestha said.

After failing to resolve the dispute over the size of the Parliamentary Hearings Special Committee for six months, the Regulation Drafting Committee of the Parliament on May 2 submitted its report to the full House along with the disputed issues. Parliament has allowed registering amendment over the draft regulation by Monday. “Both the ruling and opposition parties will register amendment, while the dialogue to resolve the issue will go parallel,” said Chaudhary. “If there is no consensus, final decision will be taken through the voting in the full House.” The next Parliament meeting has been scheduled on May 26 for a pre-budget discussion. The government will be presenting budget two days later.

In the lack of regulation, parliamentary hearing for the appointment of Chief Justice, 11 Supreme Court Justices and 22 ambassadors could not be held nearly a month after their nominations due to the existing differences among the major parties regarding the formation of the Hearing Committee.

The Congress has expressed its displeasure over the recommendation of the justices and ambassador saying the government made unilateral decision over the appointment in the crucial position. The ruling parties blame NC for taking revenge against incumbent government which rejected the names of Ram Prasad Situala as the member of Judicial Council who was recommended for the position by the erstwhile Sushil Koirala-led government.