The previous government, just before the formation of the present coalition, had registered a bill proposing changes in some provisions relating to ensuring policy of proportional inclusion and regarding constituency delineation based on population.
The NC leaders at an inter-party meeting on Sunday set another condition that it can cooperate with the ruling coalition in managing the crisis provided that the government doesn't reverse the decisions of the previous government led by NC President Sushil Koirala.
NC leaders conveyed the party's proposal at a meeting convened by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar.
Leaders from all the ruling parties and the parties supporting the ruling coalition staying outside the government and the main opposition NC were present at the meeting.
"The government should immediately forward the constitution amendment bill that was registered at the Parliament Secretariat by the previous government," NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat told Republica while emerging from the meeting. "That can create an environment of trust between the ruling and opposition sides."
He said that such a situation would be favorable for both the sides to jointly work at this time of crisis.
NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel and Mahat conveyed the party's position after Prime Minister Oli at the gathering sought other parties' support in tackling the ongoing blockade, Tarai-Madhesh agitation and finalizing a bill to establish the Reconstruction Authority.
Stating that he wanted to forge a common understanding on dealing with the aforementioned three issues, Oli sought views of all the political parties on how to deal with these challenges.
"At this juncture of national crisis, I haven't taken the NC as an opposition party. I want to work with the NC as a partner," a leader quoted Oli as saying at the meeting. Then, the NC leaders pledged their conditional support to the government.
Later, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed to hold the next meeting among a small group to finalize the common views of the parties based on the spirit expressed in today's [Sunday] meeting.
"The prime minister will convene yet another meeting that will finalize the parties' common understanding to deal with the three major challenges," said UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chair Narayankaji Shrestha.
Once the parties forge a common understanding, they will negotiate with agitating Madhes-based parties.
Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, who is also chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, said that the prime minister took the initiatives to bring all parties together as the country is facing a national crisis and not a usual political dispute.
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