If what Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had promised is anything to go by, a constitution amendment bill should have been in Parliament now, for it was supposed to be tabled before his visit to India.

PM Dahal visited India on September 15-19. Then there were talks that the bill would be tabled before Dashain. The Dashain festival began on Saturday with the marking of Ghatasthapana.

In two days, Dahal’s government completes two months, but uncertainty continues to loom over the constitution amendment bill.

PM Dahal is learnt to have been preparing to hold formal discussions with the major parties and Madhesi and Janajati forces between Monday and Wednesday to find a meeting point on contentious issues. With Madhesi and Janajati forces having their own set of demands, the governing parties—CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress (NC)—are not hopeful about reaching a deal that could pave the way for the tabling of the amendment bill anytime soon.

PM Dahal’s Chief Political Adviser Chakrapani Khanal said the government has been holding informal talks with all the concerned parties, including the main opposition CPN-UML.

For the parties to reach a compromise, both sides have to exhibit flexibility and take the main opposition into confidence.

Chances of an agreement anytime soon are slim given the rigid stance maintained by the Madhes-based parties, said Khanal.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Shankar Nayak also said that the Madhes-based parties and the main opposition have maintained a rigid position.

Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Co-chair Rajendra Shrestha said the governing parties should first make a common stance on the demands of agitating parties.

Negotiations will most probably start after Dashain holidays, said Shrestha. Then there is the main opposition whose support will be a must to get the bill endorsed.

Both the government and the agitating parties though claim that they will try to straighten out things in short order, a deal as of now seems to be a long way off.