Kathmandu, December 16:

Lauding the signing of the interim constitution, leaders of the CPN (UML), NC (D) and the Janamorcha Nepal said today that the constitution had consolidated the achievements of Jana Andolan II, the movement of 1951 and the 1990 movement and paved the way for the formation of a democratic republic.

The Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation and a member of the government talks team, Pradip Gyawali, said at the Reporters’ Club: “The interim constitution has consolidated the achievements of the 1950 movement, the movement of 1990 and the historic Jana Andolan II.”

“The interim constitution has retained the title of the king only,” he said, adding: “The government would give the titular king liberty to step down, become a commoner and form his party to contest constituent assembly elections.” He assured all and sundry that the constituent assembly elections will be conducted in June.

“The eight parties — seven-party alliance and the CPN (Maoist) — have agreed to focus on constituent assembly elections for the next six months,” Gyawali, who is also a CPN (UML) leader, said. “Leaders have also agreed to make major decisions, including the selection of the interim prime minister, through consensus among the eight parties.”

He said the seven-party alliance government and the Maoists have decided to initiate the process of arms management before the arrival of the UN arms monitoring team. “The interim constitution will gain legality once the parliament passes it.”

A central member of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), Dr Minendra Rijal, told this daily that the signing of the final draft of the interim constitution was a “milestone” and marked the “beginning of a journey leading to a republican setup.” Saying that the interim constitution will put an end to the 237-year-old “feudal legacy” once the parliament approves it, the Janamorcha Nepal vice-president, Leela Mani Pokhrel, said the interim constitution will now deprive the king of all rights and powers.