The UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) held discussions about increasing the CA size to 586 seats as against the 491 seats agreed earlier so that the demands of parties agitating in the streets to press for more seats under the proportional system could be met and they could be persuaded to participate in the election.[break]
Though Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have stood against the joint proposal of the Maoists and the UDMF, arguing that this will unnecessarily inflate the size of the new CA, the two parties have said that they can entertain the proposal only after holding talks with the agitating parties, said a senior leader involved in inter-party negotiations. Maoist Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai had formally proposed at the HLPC meeting that all the parties should be ready even to increase the number of CA seats under the proportional system if that will bring the agitating parties into the election process.
Earlier, the four major parties represented in the HLPC had agreed to have 240 seats under First Past the Post (FPTP) and 240 under the proportional electoral system, with 11 seats to be nominated by the cabinet. But as the agitating parties, mainly the Federal Democratic Forum that includes the Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi People"s Rights Forum-Nepal and the Ashok Rai-led Federal Socialist Party (FSP), are demanding the same ratio between FPTP and the proportional electoral system as in the erstwhile CA, the parties are mulling an increase in seats under the proportional system.
The erstwhile 601-member CA had nearly 58 percent seats allocated under the proportional system and 42 percent seats under FPTP.
UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said they held discussions on various ways to appease the agitating parties. ´We proposed to increase the seats under the proportional system if that would bring the agitating parties into the election. But NC and the UML have maintained that it is too early to go for that,´ he said.
Shrestha said the first HLPC meeting held under UDMF coordinator Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar on Monday decided to start talks with agitating parties to create a conducive environment for polls. The parties have decided to hold informal talks of their own with the agitating parties to learn about their concerns.
The HLPC meeting also assessed the protests that the agitating parties including CPN-Maoist have launched against the election, bearing in mind the general shutdown called on Sunday. ´The HLPC meeting has decided to try its best to bring the agitating parties into elections through negotiations. There has been an understanding to go for polls even if the CPN-Maoist does not join the election proces,´ said a leader present at the meeting. The meeting concluded that the Federal Democratic Forum and the Ashok Rai-led Federal Socialist Party would eventually choose to take part in the election if their demands are addressed.
The HLPC meeting, while welcoming the government"s decision to announce a poll date, expressed commitment to holding the election within the stipulated date of November 19. The meeting appealed to all political parties including those out in the streets to participate in the election process and shun strikes and protest activities that could vitiate the election environment.
The HLPC meeting also wished a speedy recovery for President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, who left for Japan Monday afternoon for medical treatment.
The next HLPC meeting is scheduled for June 28.
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