Politics

Politics

Last Minute Drama

Suspense over the further extension of the tenure of the constituent assembly promises is less likely end until the last minute

By A CORRESPONDENT

When the big three parties and the Madhesi Morcha struck a seven-point deal early this month to push the stalled peace process forward, what could have been an eighth point was dropped at the last minute.


As the month neared its end the “eighth point” is in danger. There is an air of uncertainty over the informal understanding of the four signatories. It had to do with yet another extension of the constituent assembly.


The informal understanding was to give another six months to the constitution-making body. Accordingly, the government registered a constitution-amendment bill in the parliament last Friday to extend the CA’s term by six months.


Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai appears confident of pushing through the bill. He says, all major parties will come on board to ensure the two-thirds vote required to pass the bill.


While the ruling coalition partner Madhesi Morcha’s leader and the deputy prime minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhdar has gone public to throw his weight behind Bhattarai, the major opposition parties have spoken out against the bill -- after remaining silent for two days.


The UML Chairman, Jhalanath Khanal, ruled out the extension of the CA unless the prime minister resigned.