Bid to muster two-third majority in favour of bill

Kathmandu, July 10

The ruling coalition government is likely to put the constitution amendment bill to vote in the Parliament only after it ensures that two-third of the lawmakers will support it.

Minister of Labour and Employment  Farmullah Mansoor said the government would put the bill to vote as soon as it succeeds in mustering two-third majority in its favour. “The government has been trying to rally various parties behind the constitution amendment bill and it has got positive response,” he said.

When asked if the government would be able to ensure passage of the bill within a week, the ultimatum served by the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, Mansoor said, “It may be done within a week or may take more than a week.”

Mansoor said the government was trying to pass the bill with the help of CPN-UML but if that did not happen it would do so without the UML’s support.

CPN-Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal today told his party lawmakers that the bill would be put to vote.

Addressing the CPN-MC’s parliamentary board meeting in Singha Durbar, Dahal said the bill should be passed from the Parliament to increase acceptance of the constitution and to strengthen national unity.

“Constitution amendment bill has to be put to vote to bring the Rastriya Janata Party–Nepal on board the poll process. If we cannot play constructive role, disgruntled and external forces will take advantage of the situation,” CPN-MC Chief Whip Tek Bahadur Basnet quoted Dahal as saying.

He said the amendment process would begin soon and it was necessary for the sake of the country’s welfare.

He added that there was no alternative to bringing disgruntled parties, including RJP-N, on board the poll process by taking a final decision on the amendment bill.

Dahal, who is also head of the board, stressed that all sides should take the responsibility for the implementation of the constitution and holding elections.

The Dahal-led government had tabled the Constitution Amendment Bill in the Parliament some three months ago to address the demands put forth by the RJP-N.

Basnet said the meeting decided to make all efforts to pass the amendment bill. “Our party will continue to hold unilateral, bilateral and multilateral meetings with all political forces to garner two-third majority in the House in support of the bill,” said Basnet.

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