KATHMANDU, Sept 9: As uncertainty looms over the promulgation of new statute by mid-September, the government has registered a proposal to amend the Interim Constitution 2007 to pave a constitutional way out for Nepali Congress (NC) to defer its general convention for another six months.
Minister for Law Narahari Acharya registered an amendment proposal in the Parliament Secretariat on Wednesday to bring amendment in the Article 143 of the Interim Constitution. The amendment proposal put forward after consultation with other major political parties paves way for parties to defer their general convention for six month if they are not able to hold it within the stipulated five years owing to some special circumstances.If approved by two-thirds majority of lawmakers in the parliament, this will be the 13th amendment in the Interim Constitution, 2007. Parties will then be able to make necessary amendment in the party's statute to hold general convention within five and half year's time.
The Interim Constitution and the proposed draft constitution makes it mandatory for political party to hold their general convention within five years. Although the constitution bill incorporates the provision to hold the party's general convention, the uncertainty on whether the new constitution will be promulgated within mid-September has made the NC to seek amendment in the Interim Constitution, 2007.
The NC statute has kept a provision to hold general convention in every four years and extend it for a maximum of one year if some exceptional circumstances persist in the country.
The NC, which held its 12th general convention in Kathmandu in September, 2010, had decided last year to defer its 13th general convention for one more year.