Cong‚ UML MPs huge House

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress and CPN-UML lawmakers today objected to the parties’ ‘understanding’ on the strength of Pratinidhi Sabha (Lower House) and Rastriya Sabha (National Assembly or Upper House). Both when combined make federal Parliament.

After a joint meeting yesterday, leaders of three major parties — UCPN-M, Nepali Congress and UML — and United Democratic Madhesi Front told the media that the strength of the Pratinidhi Sabha would be 325 and that of Rastirya Sabha would be 60.

More than two dozen Constituent Assembly members of UML today criticised parties, saying that the proposed strength of both the Lower House and Upper House was too high to manage financially. They also called on parties either to go for a directly elected executive prime minister or for directly elected president. The proposed mixed model (directly elected president and prime minister to be elected by Parliament on a majority basis with most state powers vested with the PM) will merely create tussle between the two institutions.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress lawmakers and CWC members too strongly opposed the proposed 385-member federal Parliament, saying it was not economically viable and would not be able to balance country’s geographical situation.

At the joint meeting of CWC and Parliamentary Party, CWC members and lawmakers urged the party leadership to press other parties to lower the number of members in the central legislative body.

“A majority of lawmakers suggested that the central legislative body should not have more than 225 members,” said NC CWC member Purna Bahadur Khadka.

NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said it is a bad idea to have such a big permanent legislative body when 601-member Constituent Assembly is already drawing a flak from several quarters.