Parties ready to own up first CA’s decisions

KATHMANDU, JAN 27 - Major political parties on Sunday expressed commitment to own up the progress made by the previous Constituent Assembly ( CA ) in the constitution drafting process and deliver a new constitution within a year.

Addressing the first session of the Legislature Parliament, top leaders of the major parties, except pro-monarch Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N), said that promulgation of a new constitution from scratch was not possible. They also claimed that initiating work of the second CA will not be a problematic as there are many lessons learnt from the previous one, which will serve as reference in the second CA .

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala said a majority of the issues had been resolved by the first CA through consensus and his party would own up the decision of the previous CA on the issues. He said NC as the largest party in the CA will lead in the constitution writing process and put in all its efforts to sort out all the contentious issues through consensus within the stipulated time.

“Delivering a new constitution in a year is possible if all the parties work truly to this effect avoiding the crisis of confidence,” Koirala said, adding that the constitution should be promulgated in a year to lead the country to the path of prosperity. The first CA had completed a majority of the tasks except state restructuring, forms of governance and electoral system.

The major political parties including NC, CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and Madhesi forces had reached a four-point agreement last month to own up the achievement made by the previous CA and produce a new constitution within a year.

Chairman of the UML Jhala Nath Khanal recalled that the previous CA had agreed to have 39 parts in the new constitution of which it had completed 32 before its dissolution. He said all the issues completed by the first CA should be organised and presented before the new CA for  approval before moving on to another task.

“The election result is the reflection that people have rejected the idea of single identity-based federalism which was one of the most debated issues earlier. The fact should be realised before starting the business of the new CA ,” Khanal said.

Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal explained that the first CA had completed 80 percent task of the constitution drafting process. “I urge all the political parties to own up the constitutional issues settled by the previous CA . Then we can draft a new constitution in six months and promulgate it in a year,” said Dahal, assuring his party’s full support to the NC and the UML in drafting the constitution in a constructive manner.

Leaders of the Madhes-based parties, including Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum- Loktantrik Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, General Secretary of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Sarbendra Nath Sukla, also agreed to own up the issues from the first CA . However, they warned parties not to undermine the agendas of Madesh and marginalised groups.

RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa, however, said that it will be a mistake to understand the new CA as the continuation of the previous one. Demanding a fresh start to the constitution drafting process, he said a new constitution can be promulgated in a year if all the parties work together.

“As the current CA has 85 percent new faces, imposing the task of the former CA on them is not justifiable,” he said.

The party emerged as the fourth largest party securing 24 seats under the proportional representation system in the second CA . The party has been demading reinstatement of Hindu kingdom, constitutional monarchy and advocating for decentralisation instead of federalism.

Claiming that the culture of prohibitive politics has only brought conflict in the country, Thapa warned the major parties not to exclude RPP-N from the decision making process.

“We are well aware of our status but it will be a mistake to undermine our demands without any negotiations,” said Thapa.

Around two dozens of leaders from different parties addressed the session. The parliament session will continue on Monday from 11 am.

Majority for fresh president poll

KATHMANDU: Major political parties except the Nepali Congress have formally demanded a fresh presidential election in the new political set up.

Addressing the first session of the Legislature Parliament on Sunday, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal and Chairman of Rastriya Prajantantra Party- Nepal Kamal Thapa claimed that the continuity of incumbent President Ram Baran Yadav and his deputy Pramananda Jha will be against the fresh mandate from the electorate.

They held that the election of the top post including that of the President, Vice President, prime minister and chairman and vice-chairman of CA should be held immediately. (PR)

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