Ending deadlock, amending regulations

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: Chief whips and leaders of all parties represented in the Legislature-Parliament today discussed at the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting ways to end the political deadlock and amend House regulations.

But Congress and other fringe parties smelt a rat in the three-point deal struck between the UCPN-M and CPN-UML on September 17. They demanded convincing explanation from both parties regarding the motive behind the deal.

NC chief whip Laxman Prasad Ghimire and lawmaker Suprabha Ghimire termed the deal “abstract” and “mysterious” while fringe parties flayed the UCPN-Maoist and UML for not consulting them.

However, Narayankaji Shrestha of UCPN-M and Bhim Acharya, UML chief whip, tried to pacify them, saying the deal was not ill-intended. “We do not have any hidden agenda. The deal aims to forge political consensus among parties on peace and the constitution,” a BAC member quoted the leaders.

UCPN-Maoist and UML asked the NC to pull out of the prime ministerial race and explore a fresh way out by amending parliamentary regulations.

But NC leaders put a rider, saying that NC would withdraw its prime ministerial candidate only after the parties reached consensus on the entire gamut of the peace process.

Shrestha told BAC members that his party would take an important decision on the peace process within a couple of days that would address the NC’s concerns.

With the UCPN-Maoist and UML opting out of the election process, there seems to be no point in holding elections as the two parties combined command absolute majority in the House.

Speaker Subas Nembang urged the parties to reach understanding as delay in forming the government had disappointed people and the constitution-drafting process had also come to a standstill. He said parliamentary regulations could be amended only after the election process ended. Sources said regulations would be amended in such a way that parties could not remain neutral during PM’s election.

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Ending+deadlock%2C+amending+regulations&NewsID=259379