CA may last till mid-July: Nepal

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Senior leader of the CPN-UML and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who is a member of the Problem Resolution Sub-Committee formed by the Constitutional Committee to resolve disputed issues of new constitution, today dropped a hint that the Constituent Assembly’s term may be extended by one-and-a-half months beyond May 27.

During today’s Constitutional Committee meeting, Nepal said it was possible to do so if parties prepared the first draft of new constitution by May 27. “Rest of the jobs related to the new constitution can be completed by mid-July if the first draft of new constitution is ready by May 27,” Chhabilal Bishwokarma, a CC member, quoted Nepal as saying.

But Bishwokarma said he was clueless on what ground Nepal said so when the former PM was aware of the fact that CA term could not be extended beyond May 27 if the Supreme Court’s verdict were to be adhered to.

Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC said no alternative should be explored to bypass the Supreme Court’s mandatory verdict.

After Nepal’s briefing about talks among the parties on federalism and forms of governance, today’s CC meeting was postponed indefinitely until further notification, said CC secretary Tekprasad Dhungana.

“Issues of forms of governance and federalism are complicated and serious. These issues will take more time to resolve. The first draft of new constitution cannot be prepared without reaching consensus on its fundamental issues,” Dhungana quoted Nepal as saying.

Nepal was the only member of the Sub-Committee to attend today’s CC meeting. Sub-Committee Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and NC Vice-President Ramchandra Paudel did not turn up at the meeting, saying they were busy in the four-party meeting.

Meanwhile, today’s planned CA full House meeting, which was supposed to endorse voting process on the disputed constitutional issues, was also put off with a notice at the parties’ request.

The next Constituent Assembly full House meeting will be held on Tuesday.