President unhappy? None can stop constitution now, says PM

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on Tuesday morning called on President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the latter's office in Sheetal Niwas and apprised the latter of the ongoing process to deliver the new constitution.

In the meeting, the head of the state reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction over the "unilateral fixing" of the date for the announcement of commencement of new constitution and the failure on the part of major parties as well as the CA to bring all the disgruntled forces including the Madhesi parties on board the constitution making process.

Emerging from the meeting, which lasted for about 45 minutes, Prime Minister Koirala tersely told the media that now none can stop the constitution.

Earlier today, Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang had met the President and invited him to the official ceremony being organised on September 20 to promulgate the new constitution.

Both the Prime Minister and the CA Chairman were expected to separately meet the President yesterday evening.

The President on September 11 had sent a letter to the CA Chairman suggesting him to defer the voting process on draft constitution in order to hold talks with the agitating Madhesi parties  and include them while endorsing the new charter.

President Dr Yadav has been widely criticised for his public statements and suggestions on the ongoing constitution making process, which the major parties have considered an unwarranted interference, despite his ceremonial role.

As per the articles under the Transitional Provisions in Part 35, which are yet to be endorsed, the Constituent Assembly will be transformed into the Legislature-Parliament after the promulgation of statute. The transformed Legislature-Parliament will then have to elect the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker afresh.

According to the Article 291, the President and Vice President should be elected within a month of commencement of new charter or within a month of summoning of the House if it is not in session at the time of promulgation, while the Article 292 provisions election of the Prime Minister within seven days.

Likewise, the Article 293 says that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker should be elected within 20 days.

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