Kathmandu, January 19:

The civil society members picked as members of the Legislative-Parliament, today criticised the political parties for failing to keep their promises to give more seats to the civil society members in the legislature.

All but CPN-Maoist had nominated top political leaders in the quota of 48 seats in the Legislative-Parliament, formerly allocated for the civil society members.

“The move is meant to dupe the people and the civil society. The parties took the 48 seats allocated for civil society members in the interim legislature as a chance to recruit unfit, defeated leaders and family members,” said Malla K Sundar, who was nominated as a new lawmaker from civic society.

He said this while addressing an interaction organised by Human Rights and Democratic Forum, today. He said he had nothing to say if the major political parties claim that Sujata Koirala and Jhalanath Khanal are civil society members but that it was an insult to the contribution of the civil society in the Jana Andolan II.

“Though few in number, the MPs from the civil society can matter a lot because we have strong backing from the people,” he said.

Hari Rokka, another lawmaker form the civil society said they would do their duty regardless of their number.

“Fraction of us are enough to direct the whole political mass towards making of new Nepal,” he said.

Another MP Padam Lal Bishwokarma said they would do their best in the parliament to make their voices heard.

“All political parties have elements which are trying to delay the constituent assembly polls,” he said.

Dr Sundar Mani Dixit, a civil society leader, urged the lawmakers to seek formation of a new government and ask the government to implement the report of the Rayamajhi Commission.