The taskforce is, however, yet to determine the system of governance -- executive presidential or prime ministerial -- and electoral system to be adopted under the new constitution.[break]
The CA thematic committee had failed to determine the system of governance as the Maoists insisted on an executive presidential system and unicameral parliament without any opposition while NC and the UML stood against. These two parties are for a bicameral parliament with an active role for opposition parties and an executive prime ministerial system with a ceremonial role for the president.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal heads the taskforce. UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Nepali Congress (NC) Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Paudel and Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) Upendra Yadav, among others, are member of the taskforce. A meeting of parliamentary party leaders from all 27 political parties represented in the CA had formed the seven-member taskforce with a view to iron out disputes.
Of the 11 issues, the taskforce members on Tuesday sorted out the contentious provisions in three groups. While they resolved some of the disputes, they found some other questions unnecessary and decided to delete them altogether. Yet other provisions are to be decided later as they are interlinked with other subjects.
On whether there should be district units or not in local governments, they agreed to decide this when the issue of state restructuring is finalized.
They identified a couple of issues to be decided only after the electoral system is determined.
On the question whether there should be separate mechanisms to allow local governments to exercise executive, legislative and judicial powers, the taskforce agreed to ensure all three separate bodies.
"We decided to maintain three separate bodies at the local governments as well since all the parties have a common view on empowering the local levels," NC leader Nabindra Raj Joshi, who was present at the meeting, told Republica. They also decided to put in a provision for legislatures at local level as well.
The taskforce deleted a question on whether the parties should come up with an alternative candidate for the chief minister before introducing a no-confidence motion against an incumbent chief minister of a province. They agreed to delete it on the ground that such a proposal might become meaningless if the motion fails to oust the incumbent chief minister. They also decided to remove another question about whether the executive authority of a province should be delegated to the governor when a state of emergency or federal rule is imposed on a province. "We decided to delete this question since it should be determined as per the situation of the particular case and the provision we envision now might be irrelevant at that time," said Maoist leader Dev Gurung.
The next meeting of the taskforce is scheduled for Thursday. Wrapping up discussions on subjects related to system of governance, they decided to take up another thematic report at the next meeting, according to Gurung.
Sharp differences among political parties over the provisions to be enshrined in the new constitution have bogged down the drafting process.
Earlier, the 15-member Preliminary Reports Study Committee prepared a list some 225 contentious issues in the eight thematic reports. The taskforce has an October 24 deadline to submit a report to the meeting of 27 political parties after settling or narrowing down differences. The preliminary reports will then be forwarded to the Constitutional Committee (CC), which is entrusted with preparing an integrated draft of the statute incorporating all 11 thematic reports. The parties are yet to forward eight of the 11 thematic reports to the CC. The CC has demanded at least a month´s time to prepare the integrated draft.
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