KATHMANDU, July 4: An influential leader of the Nepali Congress (NC), Dr Shekhar Koirala, has said that constitutional amendments are necessary for political stability in the country.
Speaking at a program organized in Birgunj on Thursday by the NC Parsa district chapter, Koirala said that the current mixed election system should be removed and replaced with a direct electoral system.
"Our priority is political stability, good governance, and development," said Koirala, "Proportionality and inclusiveness should not be forgotten." He added that direct elections will be held from the provinces to the center, and the party that wins will form the government.
Constitutional Amendment and the Question of Stability
Dr Koirala also said that the CPN (Maoist Center) had already irked the two big parties, NC and UML, by changing alliances time and again.
The Maoist Center secured 32 seats in alliance with the NC but joined hands with the UML while forming the government. The party forged an alliance with the NC only to break it again within the next few months. “After careful consideration of such a situation, the NC and the UML agreed to forge an alliance," he said.
Dr Koirala also said that the issue of an alliance with the UML was not the decision of NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba alone. "We all talked about the fact that the country cannot run without bringing amendments to the constitution. Civil society has also started talking about it," he said.
Dr Koirala also mentioned that it was too late for the NC to reconcile with the UML. An alliance was also made with the UML in Koshi. "At that time, the leaders in the party also abused me," he said. "If there had been an alliance with the UML at the center at that time, the current situation would not have happened."
Dr Koirala said that even if there are errors in the constitution, it should not be altered too much. He also noted that everyone has their own desires but one cannot make everyone happy.
"The NC and the UML joining hands to form a government is a good thing," he said. "The governments from the provinces to the center are changing. The big parties are trying to provide political stability by standing together."
