Leaders close to consensus in all issues of statue drafting

RSS

KATHMANDU: A meeting of three major political parties UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and Madhesi Morcha held this afternoon has forged consensus in three major contentious issues in new constitution. Leaders have said that they are very close to consensus in all contentious issues of the constitution writing process.

The next meeting of the leaders is to hold this evening.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar said the leaders have agreed on judiciary, electoral system and citizenship.

It is said that the top leaders have agreed to constitute constitutional court for fixed five-year term with the jurisdiction of settling row surfaced between centre and provinces, and in between provinces.

The constitutional court will be formed under the leadership of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Similarly, the leaders have agreed to distribute citizenship certificates to the children in the names of mother and father.

NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said parties have agreed that gender discrimination will end through this provision.

Similarly, agreement has been made on mixed electoral system by allocating 60 per cent seats for direct electoral system and 40 per cent for proportional electoral system. However, the leaders have not forged consensus yet whether or not to reduce the existing 240 constituencies across the country, said UML leader Pradip Gyawali after the meeting.

Leaders have opined to reduce the number of constituencies saying that country cannot bear the excessive number of lawmakers if present provision was continued.

Similarly, the parties have not forged consensus regarding the placement of the lawmakers--either in upper house of lower house--selected under the proportional system.

Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that all nitty-gritty of constitution will be finalized by this evening.

Likewise, the leaders have agreed on mixed form of governance but this issue is yet to get the formal shape.

Gachchhadar said that both the President and Prime Minister will share powers in the new constitution.