E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, SEP 06 -

Ending confusions over the type of election that the party favours, the Nepali Congress has proposed holding fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) elections by mid-May 2013, to draft “a new democratic constitution.”

Presenting a revised political document at the party's ongoing CWC meeting, Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that a NC-led consensus government should be formed to hold fresh CA elections. UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, however, has said that his party will not accept a NC-led government for holding CA elections. The CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) have already decided to go for fresh elections.

The NC has, however, kept open the option of CA revival for a brief period to promulgate the constitution if parties agree on the disputed issues. The NC has emphasised drafting a new constitution through the CA and said that the party is committed to it. The NC has further proposed that the election-formed CA can be transformed into parliament for five years.

 Sitaula's document is not clear about the procedures of the amendment to Interim Constitution and electoral laws required for holding CA elections. According to the proposal, such things will be managed as per the political agreement among parties.  

Sitaula's political paper pitches for CA elections at a time when some leaders in the party have suggested the leadership go for next parliamentary election. NC district presidents' conference last month had suggested holding parliamentary election, which has drawn criticism from the NC's Sher Bahadur Deuba faction and other parties. 

The CWC meeting has concluded that formation of a national unity government led by Nepali Congress is the first step towards ending the current political and constitutional deadlock.  Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is stating that a NC-led consensus government can be formed as per the five-point agreement only after consensus is forged on the disputed issues of the constitution and statute promulgation process.

However, NC leaders say, the tasks such as forging consensus on the disputed issues, amendment to Interim Constitution should be carried out after forming an NC-led national unity government.

Meanwhile, in the meeting, NC leader Purna Bahadur Khadka said that only talks with the UCPN (Maoist) could deliver a constitution to the country. He suggested the party leadership first define national interests and hold talks with New Delhi and Beijing regarding their security interests in Nepal.

Posted on: 2012-09-06 08:39

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