KATHMANDU: The Constituent Assembly (CA) Committee on the forms of governance today decided to submit its incomplete concept paper and its preliminary report to CA chairman Subas Chandra Nembang on Monday.

The committee, chaired by NC CA member Shambu Hajara Dushand, will submit three concept papers and one different opinion on the forms of governance to the CA chairman after all the concept papers could not muster up a majority of votes last time.

The UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) had proposed separate concept papers. NC CA member Pradip Giri had lodged a different opinion, arguing that the executive Prime Minister should be elected through adult franchise.

The main opposition, UCPN-Maoist, proposed that the executive president- who will remain in the post only for two consecutive terms- be directly elected.

The NC and the UML had proposed a parliamentary system of democracy with the provision for a ceremonial president. While the TMDP proposed that the president be elected jointly by both the members of the federal parliament and the provincial assemblies.

In today’s meeting, four UML CA members — Ratna Gurung, Sonam Chhedung Lama, Hasina Miya and Pradyumna Chauhan — demanded that they be allowed to register a different opinion with the committee secretariat. They insisted that the executive Prime Minister be directly elected by the people vis-à-vis the provision for a ceremonial president.

Earlier on Monday, UML parliamentary party meeting had decided to elect the executive Prime Minister through adult franchise. But the committee chairman Dusandh refuted it arguing that it was too late to register their views. Dudhandh said, the time for lodging their different opinion on the issue, had already elapsed.

It may be recalled that the NC and the UML had reached an understanding to support each other on the forms of governance and election system. The UML backed the NC’s proposal of parliamentary system while the NC accepted UML’s mixed electoral system.

After committee chairman Dushand turned down their demand, the four UML CA members boycotted the voting. The proposal of submitting the concept paper and its preliminary report to the CA chair, however, was passed unanimously.