Kathmandu, July 7

A meeting of the Nepali Congress, the CPN-Maoist Centre and the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal today decided not to expand the Cabinet until the constitution amendment bill was passed.

A leader who attended the meeting held at Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s official residence told this daily that CPN-MC Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed that the Cabinet should not be expanded until the constitution amendment bill was passed and other leaders agreed with him.

Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi, who also attended the meeting, said the ruling parties were serious about implementing the three-point agreement inked between the ruling parties and the RJP-N.

He added that it was decided to accelerate efforts to muster two-third majority in the Parliament and try to amend the constitution by mid-July. “The ruling parties will seek help of the parties backing the government to pass the constitution amendment bill,” he added.

He said they would also seek CPN-UML’s support to address demands of the RJP-N.

According to Rajendra Mahato, PM Deuba and CPN–MC Chair Dahal assured RJP-N leaders that they would accelerate efforts to meet RJP-N’s demands. The Madhesi party has demanded that the constitution be amended, the number of local levels in Madhes districts be increased and false charges slapped against cadres and leaders of the RJP-N be withdrawn.

“We told them that the ruling parties’ actions should match their words and the government should implement the three-point agreement reached with it,” Mahato said.

He added that RJP-N leaders complained to the prime minister that his government resorted to repressive measures against cadres of the RJP-N in Nawalparasi.

“We told the PM that we supported his government but his administration treated our cadres as enemies during the second phase of local polls,” Mahato added.

RJP-N leader Rajkishor Yadav said they told the PM and the ruling parties’ leaders that the RJP-N wanted to see results and not just assurances.