Speaking at the parliament meeting on Tuesday, Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Ramesh Lekhak said that Deputy Prime Minister Chitra Bahadur KC had voted against the bill to amend the new constitution during the voting on Saturday. “I still don't believe that Chitra Bahadur KC, who voted against the bill, is our deputy prime minister,” Lekhak said.
Two other lawmakers-- Durga Paudel and Meena Pun--from Rastriya Janamorcha party, which is part of the ruling coalition, had voted against the bill.
“I have wisely voted against it because the bill, pushed through the House at the behest of India, was against our national interest,” said Minister KC emerging from the House meeting on Tuesday.
KC was present in the House while NC's Lekhak was raising the issue. He further said that he would prefer to leave the government than go against interest of the nation and the policy of his party.
Seven lawmakers had voted against the constitution amendment bill on Saturday. The others were from Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Akhanda Nepal Party. The amendment bill seeks to increase the inclusive proportional representation quotas for various communities which are marginalized and economically backward. The bill was first registered by the NC-led previous government in the parliament on October 7 and was pushed forward by the incumbent government for endorsement after some revisions.
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