KATHMANDU, August 8 After a marathon meeting, the special committee of the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee finally signed a new agreement at midnight to carve out six federal units and incorporate the ‘or’ provision in the citizenship clause. Unified CPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic, however, have written note of dissent on the issue of five Tarai districts, particularly against the inclusion of these districts in the hill provinces. Five out of six Pradeshes have been carved out from north to south. Nepali Congress negotiator Krishna Prasad Sitaula said the CA will now be able to deliver the new constitution by the end of August as On Saturday’s deal has cleared the way for the new statute. Reducing the number of proposed eight Pradeshes and inserting “or” provision to ensure equal rights to both mother and father for transmitting Nepali nationality to their children were widely demanded during the Constituent Assembly’s feedback drive. The parties also increased the number of members of the Upper House from 45 to 51. As per the new provision, each province will send eight members, including three women, one Dalit and one differently-abled person or from a minority group to the Upper House and three members will be nominated by the president. Some changes have been made in the language of the preamble and some of the provisions of fundamental rights as demanded during people’s feedback. President and Vice-president should represent different genders or communities as per the changed provision. The parties, however, failed to reach a conclusion on the issues of secularism, threshold for political parties in the general elections under Proportional Representative system and reappointment in constitutional bodies after the new constitution is delivered and till new appointments are made as per the new statute, said NC negotiator Krishna Prasad Sitaula. During the talks On Saturday that lasted from morning till midnight, the SC members — who are also signatories to the 16-point deal representing the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Unified CPN-Maoist — faced difficulties convincing MJF-D Chair Bijay Kumar Gachhadar to sign the agreement. Gachhadar initially opposed the three parties’ agreement to carve Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur out of Tarai Pradesh, but eventually consented. Gachhadar had threatened saying he would not sign the deal, but eventually signed it. “The leaders have an understanding to try to improve the agreement and settle reservations by the time the final draft of the new statute is put to vote for endorsement at the CA full House,” said NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula. The deal was tabled at the CPDCC meeting On Saturday and the panel will discuss it tomorrow before sending its report to the CA full House. According to NC negotiator Ramesh Lekhak, despite signing the deal, MJF-D expressed reservation on the issue of Saptari and Kailali districts. UCPN-M leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha told THT that his party expressed reservation about the five Tarai districts, citizenship clause and forms of governance. “On federal units, we are of the view that Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts should not have been included in the eastern hill district. Likewise, Tharu dominated areas of Kailali and Kanchanpur should not have been put in the western hill province,” Shrestha added. The CA meeting is scheduled to take place at 1:00pm tomorrow. Far-western Pradesh is the largest Pradesh in terms of the number of districts and geography. Only three districts Rukum, Baglung and Nawalparasi have been split in two parts, the other districts have been kept intact in the agreement. As the Special Committee meeting lasted till midnight, some CPDCC members, including CPN-ML General Secretary CP Mainali and Sadbhawana Party Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna, who were waiting for the CPDCC meeting to happen, went to the venue of the SC meeting to inquire when the meeting would start. CPDCC Chair Baburam Bhattarai told them that the meeting would start in a while. “Come after getting fresh air and we will start the CPDCC meeting,” Bhattarai was heard telling these members. The members were angry because the CPDCC meeting scheduled for 1:00pm could not take place even before midnight. Changes to the first draft • Six-Pradesh model • Children can get citizenship certificate on the basis of either father or mother’s Nepali nationality • 51-member Upper House • Representation of Dalit in Upper House • Change in language of the preamble and fundamental rights