KATHMANDU: The deadline given to the parties to submit their federal model by the State Restructuring Committee of Constituent Assembly has long elapsed but some parties are yet to submit their federal model. “It may be late, but we will present our model on federalism before Dashain,” said Nepali Congress Central Committee member Binaya Dhoj Chand. According to Chand, State Restructuring Committee of the party, headed by Gopal Man Shrestha, today presented a federal model at Central Committee meeting. Chand said, “The Central Committee will pass the model on Friday and submit it to the State Restructuring Committee of the Constituent Assembly before Dashain.” The committee has recommended 16 provinces based on national integrity, geographic viability, population size, natural resources, interrelation among the provinces and linguistic, political and administrative feasibility. The committee has proposed five provinces in Tarai, seven in mountains and four in hills. However, NC has not named the provinces. It has stated that CA is the final authority to name the provinces. Though many ethnic groups have been demanding autonomous regions based on caste and ethnicity, the NC’s committee has chosen to keep mum on that. Earlier, Shrestha-led committee had proposed seven provinces but NC lawmakers and leaders of the party wanted to increase the number. CPN-UML standing committee had directed the party’s state restructuring committee to go for 15 provinces some days ago. CPN-UML is in final stages to prepare the party’s vision on state restructuring. The UCPN-Maoist has already submitted its model to the State Restructuring Committee of the CA. The Maoists have proposed 13 provinces — three based on region and others on ethnicity. Since the parties have missed the deadline to submit their model on federalism, the State Restructuring Committee of the CA has not been able to hold meetings to prepare the draft of the model. Madhes-based parties — Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum, MJF (Democratic), Tarai Madhes Democratic Party — too have not submitted their models on state- restructuring.