Kathmandu, July 8:

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who is also the Convenor of the Government Peace Talks Team, has said since it is stated in the eight-point understanding that the House of Representatives would be dissolved after an alternative arrangement is made to that end, discussions were on regarding the alternative arrangement.

Talking to journalists at his house today, Home Minister Sitaula said, “The alternative to the dissolution of the House of Representatives would be sought through the consensus of all parties as different suggestions to that regard have been coming in from the seven political parties, the CPN-Maoist, other political parties and the civic society.” He said suggestions include: giving continuity to the present House of Representatives as the interim legislature; constituting through the present HoR a National Assembly comprising the epresentatives of the seven political parties, the CPN-Maoist and the civic society who were active in the people’s movement; the House of Representatives transferring its powers to the National Assembly constituted through this process; and the HoR itself constituting an internal HoR by appointing the representatives from all sides and political parties as the present HoR is a sovereign body.

“Whichever of these suggestions are implemented would be done so with the consensus of the seven political parties and the Maoists,” he said.

Home Minister Sitaula said the eight-point agreement signed at the highest level of the seven parties and the CPN-Maoist was in the implementation stage and a letter has been sent on behalf the Government of Nepal to the United Nations as per this agreement.