Kathmandu, May 13:

UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal today hinted that the House of Representatives (HoR) would soon make a “significant decision”.

Calling on the newly-elected Speaker Subash Nembang to concentrate on genuine issues, including the formation of a constituent assembly to strengthen loktantra, Nepal said: “Time has come for the House to make a “significant decision”. He called on the Speaker to overcome the challenges and obstructions ahead by acting boldly. Saying that dialogue with the Maoists would soon take off, he called on the HoR to “work accordingly”.

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba assured his party’s utmost support and cooperation and urged the Speaker to overcome any obstruction by working in a united manner. Deuba urged Nemwang to “blend” with all political parties. “Let all of us keep the House of Representatives on the highest standard,” the Nepali Congress (Democratic) president said.

He also said the seven-party alliance was “deciding on one issue but publicising the other decision.”

Saying that the struggle to establish loktantra is still not over, NC general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel urged the Speaker to make the House the centre of state power.

“Prove your capability in this difficult situation and be branded a “hero”, Poudel told the Speaker.

Finance minister Dr Ram Saran Mahat said the parliament should play a supreme role while Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati SJB Rana cautioned the Speaker of difficult days ahead.

Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) chairman and former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said the House should cautiously move ahead to meet the demands of the constituent assembly, which he said was “unusual”.

President of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe suggested it would be better if the Speaker resigned from the party membership to conduct the House proceedings impartially.

Several parliamentarians urged the Speaker to concentrate on genuine issues rather than “wasting crucial hours” in delivering speeches during the sittings. They also reminded the Speaker of “challenges ahead” that come as obstructions.

Today’s sitting, which was scheduled to begin at 2 pm started 3: 30 pm.