History in the making

This Sunday, September 20, will mark a historical moment for Nepal: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav will announce the promulgation of the new Constitution during the CA meeting scheduled for 5 pm that day. This will be the first full-fledged Constitution in Nepal after it became a democratic republic in 2008. Previously, an interim Constitution has been issued in 2007.

After the Constituent Assembly endorsed the Revised Bill on Nepal's Constitution with an overwhelming two-thirds majority (507 out of 598 lawmakers supported it but 66, including Nembang, did not take part in the voting process), the scene is all set to promulgate the new Constitution.

Three major parties have assured that they are open to amendments even after the Constitution has been promulgated but Madhes-based parties have opposed the current draft of the constitution. Once the Constitution comes into force, Nepal will be a federal state with a three-tier administrative system. The Constitution will split Nepal into seven federal provinces.

While the Government has declared public holidays on Sunday and Monday to celebrate the promulgation of the new Constitution, some went on to announce that they would be marking Sunday as a "black day", and that they would not accept the new Constitution.

Given how the situation is, the public in general seems to be divided over the current state of affairs but after years of differences and grievances between the major ruling parties, things finally seem to be settling down. What the new Constitution has in store for us remains to be seen, but this Sunday will be turning point that will shape the course of the future.

Women lawmakers dancing after the Constituent Assembly (CA) endorsed the new constitution during the CA meeting on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. (Dipesh Shrestha)

Kamal Thapa, chairman of RPP-Nepal, stands demanding division of votes against the proposal to declare Nepal as a secular state in the new constitution at the Constituent Assembly. (Dipesh Shrestha)

Lawmakers endorse articles of the new constitution through voice votes at the Constituent Assembly. (Dipesh Shrestha)

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Students light candles to celebrate the promulgation of the new constitution on Thursday, September 17, 2015. (Keshab Thoker)

Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, chairman of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Democratic, submitting a letter to CA chairman Subash Nembang stating that they won’t be participating in the constitution drafting process until their demands are addressed. (Dipesh Shrestha)