Kathmandu, August 5 :

In its written suggestion to the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee the Nepali Congress-Democratic has stressed on the need to evolve “political consensus” to ensure “desirable” and “balanced” representation in the new parliament.

Party vice president Bimalendra Nidhi presented the suggestion to ICDC convenor Laxman Prasad Aryal today. The NC-D in its recommendation has demanded that future of monarchy be decided either by a referendum or election to constituent assembly.

However, it has suggested that election to constituent assembly be so held that 50 per cent of the representatives are elected by “first past the post” system and remaining by “single non-transferable” vote.

The party has said election to constituent assembly be held only after determining the composition, process and electoral system by enacting law.

But the party has sought up to two years for the constitutent assembly to finish drafting the new constitution. Outlining the outstanding feature of the draft presented by his party, ND-D spokesman Dr Minendra Rijal singled out the agenda to switchover to the federal system in no uncertain terms as the hallmark of the suggestion presented by his party.

“Then consider also our stance to put an end to citizenship paper row. In fact we want an end to timeless demand to distribute those papers. We are very liberal on the issue since we have suggested relaxed conditions to avail the citizenship papers,” Dr Rijal said.

The party also drew attention at the need to push forth the stalled peace process on the basis of the 12-point and eight-point agreements and reaching “political consensus” on evolving a duly represented parliament in place of the current one.