Nepal averts crisis, extends term of Constituent Assembly

Averting a major Constitutional crisis, Nepal's key parties on Sunday struck a last-minute deal to extend the term of the Constituent Assembly (CA) by three months under which Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal will step down for the formation of a national unity govt.The breakthrough came after overnight consultations between main political parties -Nepali Congress, the Maoists and CPN-UML to forge a five-point agreement on the peace process and extending the term of CA which expired last night.

Out of 508 parliament members, 504 lawmakers voted in the favour of the bill for 9th amendment of the Constitution seeking to extend the term of the CA for three months.Khanal, who assumed the office about four months ago, offered to resign to pave way for formation of a national unity government and to start regrouping the Maoist combatants for the purpose of integration under the deal.

"The bill was endorsed by more than required two third majority vote," announced chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subhash Nemwang.However, the 71 lawmakers of Democratic Madhesi Front boycotted the voting process saying that the major parties failed to address their three-point demands.

The agreement was reached in the wee hours after a marathon meeting between ruling CPN-UML leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist chief Prachanda and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala.There was fear that the country would plunge into a political crisis if there was no agreement on extension of the Constituent Assembly. 

Last year also, Nepal had extended the term of the CA by one year.The decision to extend the term of CA came after overnight negotiations between the major political parties.Meanwhile, Khanal said he will resign after an alternative is prepared for the formation of a national government."I will resign at a time when alternative is prepared for the national government and its formation is materialised," Prime Minister Khanal said.He said that the peace process will go ahead to the logical conclusion within the stipulated time-frame of three months.

Maoist chairman Prachanda said they had worked hard expecting that the draft of the new constitution will come within three months.The top leaders of the three parties have reached an understanding to lead the government turn by turn and after three months period a national consensus government may be formed under the leadership of Maoist chief Prachanda.

The five-point deal includes an agreement on extension the term of the Constituent Assembly by three months, to conclude the peace process that include handing over of Maoists arms and integration of the Maoist combatants and completing the first draft of the constitution within the extended period.

Commenting on the political development, former Prime Minister and CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said, "Now the Maoists must take concrete steps to lay down arms and to initiate the process of integrating their combatants as parts of the on going peace process and a new government should be formed on the basis of consensus between the major political parties."

Courtesy : DDN