Kathmandu, December 27
At the call of Prime Minister Prachanda, leaders from the ruling CPN-Maoist Centre, coalition partner Nepali Congress and Madheshi Morcha are holding a joint meeting at Baluwatar on Tuesday. The meeting is part of efforts aimed at ending obstructions in the Parliament and sorting out issues related to Constitution amendment.
Political parties are trying to find a middle way, with the main opposition CPN-UML demanding withdrawal of the Constitution Amendment Bill from the Parliament and Morcha seeking certain changes in the Bill.
On Monday, Speaker Onsari Gharti conveneed political discussions on these issues, which ended on an inconclusive note. During the meeting, the Congress advised the PM to announce the date for elections, in a bid to bring the UML to an agreement.
The ruling coalition believes that the UML will be willing to end House obstructions after the announcement of poll-date, which will also make way for introduction of necessary electoral laws through the Parliament. This means putting the Bill on hold, something which the Morcha will not agree on. In this context, PM is trying to find a way out.
According to a source, RPP-Nepal President Kamal Thapa has proposed forming a high-level taskforce for Constitution amendment and for looking into the demands of the Morcha. Thapa claimed the UML will then cooperate with the parliamentary process of introducing election-related laws. The UML is also positive on forming a taskforce, the source added.
But the Morcha is yet to agree on Thapa’s proposal, while the government is against putting the Bill on hold or withdrawing it altogether.
Meanwhile, the Congress is under pressure from within its rank and file to put the Bill on hold. The Centre and the Congress fear that a situation may arise in which it may be impossible to amend the Constitution and conduct elections because of the UML. Therefore, the two parties increasingly feel they will have to initiate due processes even if the UML does not come to an agreement.
They say politics of consensus will get a boost if the government sets poll date and the UML lets the Parliament resume so as to introduce laws meant for facilitating elections under the federal system.
