Top leaders during their meeting with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at the latter´s office in Shital Niwas had apprised him that they are close to an agreement on issues relating to the formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, citizenship certificates and voters´ registration to hold fresh polls. [break]The leaders also told the president that they are also close to an agreement on issues related to the new government under Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, UCPN (Maoist) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said parties will forge consensus by March 5. “The deadlock will be resolved by March 7,” he said. On March 7, the Supreme Court is also scheduled to give a final verdict on a petition against chief justice heading the new government.
During the meeting, the leaders had apprised the president they would have to amend 18 articles in the interim constitution to remove constitutional difficulties. While NC and UML leaders have maintained that they should go for amendments in the articles only after the apex court verdict on March 7, the ruling UCPN (Maoist) has argued that they should immediately resolve difficulties.
Talking to media persons, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel while claiming that an agreement has already been reached among parties to form an election government demanded that all the controversial decisions of the Baburam Bhattarai-led government be scrapped. “We are also planning to apprise the chief justice of the agreement,” he said.
During the meeting, the president had asked the parties to resolve the deadlock at the earliest.
Sources said the four-party taskforce has almost finalized draft agreement to resolve all constitutional difficulties through Article 158 of the interim constitution.
Likewise, the taskforce is preparing to recommend necessary amendments to Article 38 (1) for the formation of a CJ-led government. The taskforce has also agreed not to bring any changes in the functions and duties of the prime minister. However, a separate code of conduct has been prepared to bar Chairman of Election Council from taking decisions that have long-term implications.
Similarly, the taskforce has already reached an agreement on a 491-member Constituent Assembly cum Legislature Parliament and allowing voting rights those who turn 18 by mid-April, 2012.
Earlier in the morning, top leaders of all the four major political forces had held a meeting at the official residence of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
Related story
Power-sharing deal among coalition partners finalized two weeks...
-1779250876.webp)
