The Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal has sought a concrete agreement with a time frame on constitution amendment to join the governing coalition of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre).

SSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav is in regular talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal about joining the government. In a meeting held with Oli on Monday, Yadav demanded a concrete commitment to constitution amendment.

In the meetings, Yadav said that the ruling parties should commit to amending the constitution promulgated in 2015 for his party to join the Oli Cabinet. However, the ruling parties are said to be hesitating to make such commitment. Constitution amendment has been one of the major demands of the Madhes-based parties. Leaders from both sides say there could be some sort of deal that will bring Yadav to the Cabinet.

“The SSF-N is demanding a concrete agreement but we are of the view that as a dynamic document, the constitution could be amended on the basis of political consensus,” said UML leader Pradeep Gyawali.

The ruling coalition is not ready to reach a deal that necessitates charter amendment in the near future. According to Gyawali, negotiations would continue to reach a meeting point. PM Oli has offered the post of foreign minister to SSF-N Chairman Yadav. In Province 2, both the UML and the Maoist Centre have supported the government led by the SSF-N.

The ruling parties want Yadav on board to secure a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives.

A UML leader, however, said the PM would not express a time-bound commitment to charter revision.

“We won’t repeat the mistakes that Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sher Bahadur Deuba made when they were in power. Chances of constitution amendment in the near future are slim,” said the leader.