A meeting of the three major parties and UDMF held at the Constituent Assembly Building on Wednesday afternoon entrusted the top leaders of all these parties to prepare a ´draft agreement´ and present it at the next meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon. [break]
“Top leaders have been given the responsibility to prepare a draft of agreement on judicial system, electoral system and citizenship,” said NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC refering to issues that have already been resolved in principle.
The top leaders have also been asked to bring a proposal on the system of governance and federalism - the two most protracted issues - for Thursday´s meeting so they can narrow down their difference. Though the parties are close to agreement on electoral system, citizenship and judicial system, there are big differences on system of governance and federalism.
Talking to Republica, Acting Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R) Raj Kishor Yadav said efforts were underway to reach a package agreement on all these issues. “There has been an understanding among parties to seek package deal on all remaining issues yet to be settled,” he said. The MPRF-R is one of the five constituent parties of the UDMF.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal flanked by key second-rung leaders had met to prepare a draft agreement on agreed issues at Special Committee Secretariat at New Baneshwor. Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar and Mahantha Thakur of UDMF were also present at the meeting that lasted for a few hours.
The major parties have decided to try and reach consensus on system of governance and federalism after holding consultations within the party on proposals floated by different parties. “We are putting in our efforts to arrive at a consensus on the issues keeping in view the opinions coming out from within and outside the party,” said a top leader involved in the negotiation.
As NC and UML leaders have strongly opposed the proposal for a jumbo federal parliament with 385 members, major parties are set to hold further discussions to look into a possible revision in the number, said sources close to CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.
Also on the issue related to the system of governance, parties are set to hold further discussions as NC leaders threw more weight on the directly elected prime minister during a joint meeting of the PP and CWC members on Wednesday. The proposal has been pushed by the UML arguing it is best suited for Nepal in view of two main concerns - political instability and possible rise of dictators.
During an internal meeting of the party, several UML leaders had asked the party leadership why they had backtracked from the party´s official stance of directly elected prime minister even as there was strong possibility of other parties coming to their fold.
“We need a strong basis to ensure political stability and curb the possibility of rise of dictatorships. Our stance on system of governance is still intact,” UML Chairman Khanal said while addressing a function at Rastriya Sabha Griha later Wednesday afternoon.
Leaders engaged in the inter-party negotiations said the Maoists and non-Maoist parties were making final negotiations on the system of governance and the number of federal states. Maoists have indicated it is ready to accept seven to eight federal states if other parties accepted its demand for directly elected president.
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