KATHMANDU: Standing committee meeting of the Unified CPN-Maoist today decided to seek consensus among the parties as the deadline to draft the new constitution inches closer. “The time in hand for drafting the new constitution is around two months and we are seriously concerned about it, so we have decided to acquire political consensus on the contentious issues in the Constituent Assembly so as to ensure a timely statute,” said vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ after the meeting.

Standing committee member Dev Gurung said that the party has decided to urge other parties to opt for consensus instead of talking about majority.

Another standing committee member Amik Sherchan said drafting the new constitution needs two-third majority and therefore national consensus is essential and the UCPN-Maoist is initiating the process.

He claimed that the government has become defunct and people have stopped to feel the presence of the government in the country, however, the government seems indifferent towards the major concerns of the country - to draft new constitution.

“In order to avoid any accident by failing to draft new constitution on time we are seeking national consensus for the timely statute,” he said, adding that the party would begin consultations with other party leaders for the same.

Sherchan also said the standing committee meeting has decided to take an initiative for a joint front of different people and organisations.

He, however, said the party is yet to make a concrete decision about the front.

When asked about the meeting of the High Level Political Mechanism, he said that the meeting would be called as soon as HLPM’s convener Girija Prasad Koirala recovers.