Constitution writing moves a step ahead

CA to forward CPDCC report to drafting committee today

KATHMANDU, June 12: After a year-long tug-of-war between the ruling and opposition parties over key features of the new constitution, constitution making process has moved a step forward on Thursday.

The task of constitution making that remained blocked at the CA's Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (CPDCC) for several months has progressed as the committee settled disputes through majority vote and submitted the report to the CA full House.

CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai tabled the report at CA plenary late Thursday evening, one year after the CA gave the committee the task of settling disputes either in consensus or through majority vote.

"As we have struck a compromise deal, political parties have achieved something while conceding in some other aspects," said Bhattarai while addressing the CA meeting. "Now, our only focus should be on producing the new constitution at the earliest."

The progress in constitution writing has become possible only after the major political forces inked a 16-point deal on Monday night.

The report was prepared in line with the same broader political understanding on key issues.

Due to interparty disputes over major issues, the CPDCC had remained idle for the last five months. Previously, the Bhattarai-headed committee couldn't settle the disputes even as the CA extended its deadline for six times.

Now, the leaders have decided to fast-forward the constitution making process. They have announced that the CA plenary will forward the CPDCC report to the CA's statute drafting committee on Friday.

Several leaders involved in interparty negotiations said the leaders have reached an understanding to give around 15 days for preparing the first draft of the new constitution based on the agreements reached at the CPDCC and in line with the 16-point political deal.

If everything goes as planned, the new constitution will be promulgated by mid-July.

The constitution making process is now likely to move ahead smoothly as political forces commanding an overwhelming majority in the 601-seat CA have agreed to expedite the drafting process based on the 16-point deal.

Few political parties commanding around 30 seats in the CA have stood against the political deal. The strength is too insignificant to prevent major political forces from producing a new constitution through two-thirds majority in the House.

"Some political parties have registered their differing views on the report. Their concerns can be further discussed at the drafting committee and they can register their views there in one way or the other," said Bhattarai.