Last day of CA: Last-hour parleys on amid statute uncertainty

KATHMANDU, May 27: 

With only hours remaining for the Constituent Assembly (CA) term to expire, top leaders of major political parties have engaged themselves in hectic parleys since early Sunday morning in their last-ditch effort to forge consensus on disputed issues, particularly related to federalism.

Early this morning, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai called on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the latter´s official residence in Shital Niwas, Maharjgunj. It is understood that the duo discussed the latest political developments, especially political leaderships´ persistent failure to forge common ground on outstanding issues, and ways to tackle a new situation in case CA fails to promulgate the new constitution today. 

Following the talks, PM Bhattarai headed to UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s residence in Lazimpat. Likewise, the major political parties including Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML are also holding internal talks to forge their stances before entering into last-hour negotiations over restructuring of the state.

Meanwhile, a  meeting of  the UCPN (Maoist), NC, CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has got underway at the prime minister´s official residence in Baluwatar to see if they can clear final hurdles and promulgate the new constitution by late today.

Several rounds of talks held recently among these political parties have failed after they refused to budge from stances, specifically regarding naming, delineation and the number of provincial states to be carved out while restructuring the state.

NC and UML have been pressing for multiple identity based federalism with some six to eight provinces, while UCPN (Maoist) and UDMF have insisted on single identity based federalism with 10 or 14 provinces as earlier recommended by State Restructuring Commission and CA thematic committee.

Likewise, NC and UML have stressed that the new constitution should be promulgated leaving the task of naming and delineation of provinces to transformed parliament, an idea Maoists and UDMF have disagreed on. Maoist and Madhesi leaders have also optionally proposed to take the disputes to CA full house for voting, but NC and UML have opposed the proposal. 

With the uncertainty over the CA being able to promulgate the new constitution, the country is faced with a possible serious constitutional vacuum. The Supreme Court has already ruled that the CA, if it fails to meet today´s deadline, would be dissolved leaving the parties limited options including fresh elections and referendum.

Both the Legislature-Parliament and CA meetings are due later in the day.

Security forces have been put on high alert in the capital considering possible escalation of violence in case the CA fails to issue a full-fledged constitution or the CA is dissolved . A large number of security  personnel from Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have been deployed , with Nepal Army on standby to contain any violence.

Source: Republica