CA Chair steps up talks with leaders on statute drafting

KATHMANDU, Jan 28: Chairman of Constituent Assembly (CA), Subas Nembang, on Thursday consulted with top leaders of major political parties and chief whips of the parties on finding ways of expediting the constitution writing process, reported our correspondent Kosh Raj Koirala from CA House at New Baneshwar.



Nembang stepped up dialogues with the political parties mainly on preparing an integrated draft report compiling preliminary draft reports prepared by all the 11 thematic committees. [break]



"I talked to the leaders on settling the differences that surfaced while preparing the preliminary drafts. I have intensified talks with the parties for the last couple of days as we are running out of time," Nembang said.



Nembang said he has urged the leaders to concentrate themselves in the constitution writing process. He said he is encouraged by the leaders´ "positive response" toward his call for parties´ attention on the matter.



CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, Vice Chairman of UCPN (Maoist) Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Vice President of Nepali Congress (NC) Ram Chandra Poudel, among other leaders from various political parties represented in the CA, participated in the meeting convened by Nembang.



"He briefed us about the situation in the CA and we acknowledged about the issues that are yet to be resolved. We have taken his initiatives positively and are ready to support him," Khanal told reporters while emerging from the meeting.



Though all the 11 CA committees prepared preliminary draft reports and concept papers on their thematic sectors, dozens of provisions are yet to be finalized due to differences surfaced among the parties.



The CA is yet to finalize whether to adopt bicameral or unicameral parliament, presidential or prime ministerial system and directly-elected or parliament-elect prime minister, among other several important issues.



Parties have differences also about the state restructuring model, number of states and distribution of state powers.



The Constitutional Committee is entrusted with preparing an integrated draft report compiling all the thematic reports as per the directives and feedbacks given by the 601-member CA.



After holding several rounds of discussions, the CA has to endorse the new constitution by two-thirds majority of the full House.

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