Amid strong reservations expressed by the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC), a meeting of three major parties on Monday decided that the government will retract its earlier directive to the commission to make area clusters (Ilakas) the “main basis” for fixing the number of local bodies.

As per an agreement reached between three major parties and LLRC officials on Monday, a Cabinet meeting, most likely on Thursday, will revise the terms of reference (ToR) of the LLRC in such a way that Ilakas will be made “one of the bases”, instead of “main basis”, while fixing the number of local bodies. A clause seeking to keep municipalities intact will also be withdrawn, as per Monday’s understanding.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal was also present at Monday’s meeting.

Earlier, the government on September 27 had amended the LLRC’s ToR, making Ilakas, whose number stands at 927, the “main basis” for determining number and boundaries of local bodies. The government decision was taken in line with an agreement reached among three major parties on September 25. The LLRC, formed in March last year to determine the number and boundaries of local bodies in line with a constitutional provision, had taken serious exception to the government decision, saying that the move undermined the jurisdiction of a constitutional body and that neither parties nor the government can dictate it. The LLRC in July had proposed 565 local units (village and municipal councils) by rearranging 217 municipalities and 3,117 village development committees (VDCs) across the country. But parties have different takes on the LLRC proposal. The Nepali Congress in particular had objected to the LLRC proposal, saying that delivering services to the general public through 565 locals will be difficult.

  “The language of the ToR will be revised,” Minister for Local Development Hit Raj Pandey told the Post.

The parties and the LLRC have also agreed to keep the number of local units somewhere between 565 and 927.

“The number of local units will be increased. We are working to develop a new modality for determining the number and boundaries of local units,” said Dor Mani Poudel, a member of the LLRC.

The LLRC is likely to fix the number of local units at 700.

Monday’s meeting also agreed to extend the LLRC deadline for submitting its final report by one month—till mid-November.

Three major parties have also assured the commission that they will direct their district chapters to help LLRC’s technical committees in finalising their reports. “We have to work again under the changed circumstances,” said Sunil Rajan Singh, another member of the LLRC.

So far, technical committees from 52 districts only have finalised their reports. The LLRC was earlier given till mid-October to submit its final report in order to allow ample time to the Election Commission to prepare for local level elections which have been announced for March by the government.