The NC-UML move comes at a time when the high-level taskforce has expedited the work of resolving disputes in the statute-drafting process. NC leaders have also decided to reach out to other parties as well in a bid to convince them to incorporate democratic values and principles in the new constitution to the maximum.[break]
Realizing the need of regular and enhanced inter-party coordination, Ram Chandra Paudel and Ramesh Lekhak from the NC and Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and Bharat Mohan Adhikari of UML held a confidential meeting on Sunday.
NC leaders decided to talk to UML leaders in the hope that the third-largest party can be a major democratic ally in the constitution-writing process.
"As the NC and UML have similar views on over 90 percent of outstanding disputes related to statute drafting, we can find a common stance on those issues once we sit together and discuss things with each other," a NC leader told Republica.
NC lawmaker Ramesh Lekhak, who is involved in the talks, also floated the proposal at a parliamentary party meeting of the NC on Tuesday.
Lekhak said if the NC fails to go ahead with that approach it will fail to get its way in the ongoing meetings of the taskforce.
"We will also reach out to the Maoists and other parties but we have to have good coordination with UML leaders because we [NC and UML] have common views on the maximum number of issues," Lekhak said.
NC leaders believe that the Maoists can get support from even Madhes-based parties, among others, on various issues but the UML can be the major partner of the NC for the purpose of writing a democratic constitution.
On Sunday, NC leaders had to abruptly convene a meeting with UML leaders as UML´s Adhikari, at a meeting of the taskforce earlier the same day gave consent to the Maoist proposal that the judicial council be headed by the Speaker. The stance of the NC and UML is to form the council under the leadership of the chief justice (CJ).
After the talks with NC leaders, both Adhikari and Khanal realized the need for the CJ´s leadership of the council. "We are hopeful that UML leaders will stick to the stance of forming the council under the CJ´s leadership," the NC leader said.
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