Kathmandu, November 14:

The Tarai Madhes Democratic Party has staked claim on the post of Vice-chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

The CA is likely to publicise the date for the election of the coveted post on Sunday, the day when it will adopt the business schedule, according to CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang.

“The election for the post will be conducted soon,” said Nembang.

TMDP leader Hridayesh Tripathi expressed hope that the four major parties — the CPN-Maoist, CPN-UML, Nepali Congress and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum — will offer the post to

his party.

“The ruling party has shared all major constitutional posts among themselves. This is our turn

to claim the post of Vice- chairman,” he reasoned.

Maoist leader Dina Nath Sharma refused to buy Tripathi’s argument. “Madhes has landed the post of president and vice-president. As the largest party, the CPN-Maoist had the right to lay claim on the post of the CA chair itself. Now that the post has gone to other party, our party has the right to stake claim on this post,” said Sharma. He however, added that his party would make efforts to field a candidate on the basis of consensus. He said his party wanted the election for the post held within a week. Tripathi said the NC and the Maoists were not one on the issue.

NC general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi said his party wanted a woman candidate fielded for the post. Nidhi said the party was also ready to pick a candidate on the basis of consensus.

“We have not yet decided to field our candidate, but the TMDP cannot say it has the right to stake claim on the post,” he reasoned.