Light at the end of tunnel? Nepal Parliament likely to reopen soon

Kathmandu, January 3

The stalled Parliament meetings are likely to resume in a few days, thanks to a ruling from the Supreme Court in response to a writ against the Constitution Amendment Bill. The parliamentary Business Committee had advised Speaker Onsari Gharti to put on hold the House meeting scheduled for Tuesday and convene the next meeting on January 8. The Parliament Secretariat has pasted a notice announcing the postponement of the meeting till January 8.

When Minister for Law Ajaya Shankar Nayak was preparing to speak in the House, Speaker stopped him and gave leaders of political parties till January 8 to hold extensive discussions, a source informed.

At the meeting, Subas Nembang, deputy leader of the CPN-UML Parliamentary Party, claimed that the Supreme Court verdict was in line with the UML’s standpoint. He proposed giving leaders of political parties until January 8 to hold discussions and sort out the matter.

Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel supported Nembang’s proposal, RPP Chief Whip Dil Nath Giri told Onlinekhabar. Tuesday’s meeting indicates that political parties are heading towards an agreement.

Meanwhile, both the ruling and opposition parties have got the opportunity to create an enabling environment. A participant at the meeting said there are indications that obstructions in the Parliament will end somehow.

RPP, a partner in the Prachanda-led ruling coalition, has proposed forming a national consensus government by bringing the UML and United Democratic Madheshi Front on board.

Giri proposed forming an all-powerful taskforce with a monthlong tenure for resolving disputes related to provincial demarcation. Within this period, the government should announce local elections and opposition parties should remove obstructions in the Parliament simultaneously, he said, adding: After that, focus should be on forming a consensus government. Only then will the country move towards elections.