Kathmandu, November 13:

The Nepali Congress (Democratic) will seek opinions and suggestions from district presidents of the party before making its stance clear on monarchy, a central leader of the party, Amar Raj Kaini, told The Himalayan Times today.

The Nepali Congress, too, is expected to take the issue to the party rank and file before drawing up its manifesto before the constituent assembly elections.

NC (D) president Sher Bahadur Deuba has been saying that the party rank and file will discuss the issue.

He has been indicating that a Mahasamiti meeting of the party will be called to discuss the issue.

The NC (D) leadership is seeking opinions from district presidents of the party with an aim to come up with a formal stance on the institution of monarchy, unification with the Nepali Congress (NC), constituent assembly and the recently-signed peace accord. The three-day meeting of the party district presidents begins tomorrow. The meeting will hold discussions on the future of monarchy, unification of the NC (D) with the NC and the peace accord.

The NC has been insisting that the first session of the constituent assembly will decide the fate of the 235 year-old institution of monarchy. The meeting of the district presidents will also discuss ways to consolidate the party.