Regmi was unhappy with the result of the meeting with leaders from the High Level Political Committee (HLPC), which offers advice to the government on crucial political issues, as Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML refused to show flexibility. [break]
The government hasn´t been able to fix poll date and to forward the draft ordinance on amending election-related laws as the political parties remain sharply divided over the proposed provisions.
UCPN (Maoist), Madhes-based parties and some other fringe political organizations have opposed the proposed provisions, while NC and UML, among others, are for introducing new laws.
“I strongly urge you to settle the issues, including the matter of eligibility threshold and allocation of seats under the proportional quota, and the criteria on the registration of political parties [in the election commission] and to come up with a clear concept on these issues,” a statement issued by Regmi´s secretariat quoted him as saying at the meeting.
Sources said Regmi was displeased as NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal along with other representatives from their parties didn´t show signs of a compromise while Regmi was expecting some flexibility from the NC and UML leaders.
“Chairman Regmi was a bit unhappy at the end of the meeting because NC and UML leaders raised the issue of his resignation as the chief justice, while the chairman was expecting flexibility on the part of NC and UML on the threshold criteria and the size of the Constituent Assembly,” said sources close to Regmi.
Sources present at the meeting said that Regmi, at times, was displeased as leaders started arguing over whether or not his resignation as chief justice was necessary.
“His displeasure was visible as he urged the leaders to stop discussions over the matter and enter into agenda items scheduled for the meeting,” said a leader present at the meeting.
The issue was discussed at the meeting as UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal enquired with NC President Koirala if the reports that he is for Regmi´s resignation as head of judiciary were true.
Responding to the queries, Koirala explained, “Regmi should be ready to quit as the chief justice if that helps bring the dissident parties on board the election process because it is also the chairman´s responsibility to create an environment conducive to election.”
Countering Dahal, NC and UML leaders had also enquired about similar reports quoting UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayankaji saying that his party was ready to discuss the subject.
NC and UML leaders reiterated that introducing the proposed threshold criteria and downsizing the 601-member CA to 491 members, among other proposed provisions, were necessary to do away with the anomalies experienced in the dissolved CA.
“We insisted on introduction of the new provisions because lessons learnt in the dissolved CA and the need for political stability make the provisions more relevant,” UML leader Agni Kharel, who was present at the meeting, told Republica.
EC has proposed to introduce a threshold that would make it mandatory for a political party to secure at least one percent of the total valid votes cast in the election to be eligible for seats under the proportional quota.
EC has also proposed to downsize the 601-member CA to 491 members. As per the new proposal, of the total 491 members, 240 will be elected directly from the electoral constituencies and other 240 will be nominated under the proportional representation quota. Yet another 11 members will be appointed by the government.
In the previous CA, 240 members were elected directly, 335 were elected under the proportional quota and 26 other members were nominated by the government. The percentage of the members to be allocated under the proportional quota has been drastically reduced.
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