KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today said he would take the responsibility to ensure that the peace process was taken to a logical conclusion and the constitution was drafted on time.

“Being the major stakeholder of the peace process I shall take the responsibility of peace and constitution,” said Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ while addressing a function organised to mark the 12th anniversary of Reporters’ Club here today.

“One signatory of Comprehensive Peace Process Girija Prasad Koirala is no more. Another stakeholder is still alive and ready to take the responsibility of republic, constitution and federalism,” he said.

At a time when the political leaders and members of the Constituent Assembly are predicting that timely statute was impossible, top leaders of the major parties have expressed commitment on timely statute.

“It is possible since the parties are serious about it and they have been showing flexibility on their stance,” Prachanda said. Commenting on RPP-Nepal chairman Kamal Thapa’s often repeated statement that the major parties had different destinations, he said the destination of the parties was the same -federal republic with multi-party competition. “We are holding serious discussion on some modalities of federalism,” he added.

UML chief Jhalanath Khanal said 80 per cent CA’s work had already been completed and timely statute was possible. He said the three parties had been dwelling on the six-point proposal that included power sharing. “It’s not the time to talk but work, as we have only 58 days to draft the new constitution,” he said.

Senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said the peace process could be completed in April and constitution could be drafted in the remaining month if the parties reach an agreement. “If the parties show flexibility timely statute is possible,” he said, adding that late Koirala had formed the HLPM to iron out the differences.

RPP-N chairman Thapa accused the parties of indulging in power-centred games.

Chairman of MJF-Democratic Bijay Kumar Gachhadar claimed that the top leadership of all the parties had failed to manage the politics of the country.

Rastriya Janashakti Party chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa claimed that lack of trust among the parties was the major hurdle.

CA Chairman Subas Nembang opined that the parties were left with no option but to unite for peace and new constitution.