Maoists reject new UML offer

UML proposes to support Maoists for CC chair if they withdraw protests

Maoists outright reject UML offer

NC also lays claim for the post

CA chair plans election to select CC chair

KATHMANDU, Aug 10: The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) would back the candidate of Unified CPN (Maoist) for the chairperson of the Constitutional Committee of the Constituent Assembly (CA) provided the latter withdraws its agitation programs. [break]

The ruling CPN-UML is ready for conditional support for the Maoist candidate as chairperson of the Constitutional Committee that is lying vacant ever since then head of the committee Madhav Kumar Nepal was elected prime minister on May 23.

As per the CA regulations the post should have been fulfilled within a month after the post became vacant.

"We can support the Maoist candidate provided they withdraw the agitation and become ready to play a role of constructive opposition in the parliament and to give momentum to take the peace process to a logical conclusion," CPN-UML chief whip Bhim Prasad Acharya told myrepublica.com.

But Maoist secretariat member Barsha Man Pun, who is also a member of the CC committee, flatly ruled out any possibility of such a deal. The Maoist party has officially announced Dr Baburam Bhattarai as its candidate for the post.

The second largest party in the CA, Nepali Congress (NC), has also staked claim for the post.

NC chief whip Laxman Ghimire said his party has a strong ground to stake claim for the post. "The UML has its chairman in the CA and the Maoists have vice-chair. Therefore, we should head at least one important committee in the CA," Ghimire said.

Pun said the UML and NC should have instead requested a competent candidate like Dr Bhattarai without second thought to head the committee, just just like then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had requested Madhav Nepal to head it. "An NC leader is president, UML has the prime minister and CA chairman. Still they hesitate to support a candidate of the largest party in the CA to head an important CA committee," Pun said.

He said the Maoist party is ready to choose the chairperson by consensus but not ready to withdraw the agitation as a bargaining chip to bag the post.

Nembang plans election

CA Chairman Subas Nembang is planning to hold an election to choose the chairperson of the CC.

A highly-placed source at the CA secretariat said Nembang will announce the election date on Monday after consulting the chief whips of the major political parties earlier on the same day. Voting for the post will be held within a couple of days.

Nembang came up with a conclusion to hold the election for CC chairperson after regular consultation with chief whips of the major parties yielded no output.

He has decided to finalize the issue of CC chairperson no later than August 16, the source said.

The committee has a crucial role in the constitution making. Unlike other committees, it has a dual role. Besides preparing a preliminary framework of the new constitution, it has to prepare the first draft of the constitution as per the recommendations and guidelines given by the CA by integrating all the preliminary drafts presented by 11 thematic committees.

As a thematic committee, the CC will have to complete its preliminary draft report and submit that to the CA for deliberations no later than August 31. After completing deliberations, the CA will send all the thematic committees´ drafts to the CC by September 7 as per the amended CA calendar. After that the committee has to start work for integrating all the drafts.

thira@myrepublica.com