A meeting of the HLPC at its secretariat in New Baneshwar Friday evening decided to ask the government to start the process to amend the statute while continuing their efforts to bring Ashok Rai-led Federal Socialist Party (FSP) and the agitating alliance of 33 political parties led by the CPN-Maoist on board the election process. [break]
Top leaders of all five political parties representing in the HLPC are to hold separate meetings with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi Saturday morning to apprise them of the agreement reached with the FDF and their decision to amend the 25-point ordinance promulgated earlier, according to Nepali Congress (NC) leader Arjun Narasing KC.
The HLPC on August 16 had reached a six-point deal with the FDF that includes an agreement to increase the CA size to 585 with a provision to elect 335 members under the proportional electoral system and 240 members under FPTP as against the provision in the 25-point ordinance promulgated by President Yadav earlier to limit the CA size to 491. The parties agreed in the ordinance to elect 240 members each under proportional electoral system and FPTP and appoint 11 others through the cabinet.
The HLPC later agreed to increase the size of the CA as the Yadav-led alliance demanded that the ratio between seats allocated under the proportional electoral system and FPTP be left unchanged. The erstwhile 601-member CA had a provision to elect almost 58 percent of members under the proportional electoral system and 42 percent under first-past-the-post (FPTP).
The leaders said they decided to formally ask the government to expedite the process to bring necessary amendments in the Interim Constitution as they are running short of time. "Any agreements reached with the other dissenting parties in the meantime can be included as well and the amendment process could be accomplished within a matter of days,” KC further said.
CPN-UML leader Raghuji Panta said the meeting reviewed progress made both in formal and informal talks with Rai-led FSP and Mohan Baidya-led alliance of agitating 33 parties. He said they are ready to consider all their concerns except changing the Regmi-led government and deferring the election date.
Leaders present in the HLPC meeting agreed to continue their efforts to persuade dissenting parties for poll participation while not stalling the process of bringing amendments to the constitution. “There will be talks with FSP and Baidya-led alliance. While Baidya-led alliance is also ready to sit for another round of talks, we also are not in favor of closing the doors for talks now,” said NC leader KC. “Our efforts till the end will be to bring all parties into the election process.”
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