Caucuses close to consensus on key issues

Meetings held today among the three major partiesCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UMLdecided to constitute a taskforce to forge consensus on issues related to peace process, ame-ndment to interim constitution and power-sharing in the new government.A meeting of the three parties scheduled for tomorrow would announce the formation of the taskforce, which would work out a draft on these key issues.A taskforce comprising representatives of the three major parties will work out a draft on the issues, Maoist chairman Prachanda told mediapersons after holding talks with NC leaders at the Maoist parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar.Prachanda said the bilateral meetings with the NC and UML were moving in positive direction and that they would be able to reach a consensus before the CA meets on Tuesday.He said they discussed the issues related to the peace processincluding adjustment of the Maoist combatants, ending barrack-style structure of the YCL, returning seized property to rightful owners and providing relief to the families of martyrsamendment to the interim constitution and sharing of power among the major parties in the new government.The statute amendment would include replacement of the existing two-third majority provision to form or oust a government with simple majority and removal of the references of seven-party alliance and interim parliament.NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said todays talks were positive as the Maoists were ready to make necessary amendments to the interim constitution, including the majority provision.After the talks with the Maoists, UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari said they were close to a consensus on the process of electing a ceremonial head of the state and executive prime minister. He said they were close to an understanding on adjusting the Maoist combatants within three months from the date of the formation of the new government.Meanwhile, addressing a welcome function organised by Ganatantrik Samanwaya Manch in honour of 20 CA members elected from the Kochila State Council at Balmiki Campus, Prachanda said NC president GP Koirala should not be given an additional burden of the presidential post, as he is too old and too frail to handle the daily jobs of the state.Home Minister KP Sitaula met me this morning with a proposal that GP Koirala may resign from the partys general membership if we agree on Koiralas name for the countrys first President, Prachanda said.Instead of giving him a stressful job at such an old age, we want to make him the guardian of the 25 parties in the CA, he told mediapersons.He also said they would have no problem in incorporating a constitutional provision of a simple majority to form and remove the government if other parties guaranteed that they would not indulge in filthy practice of toppling the government before the completion of its tenure.

Meetings held today among the three major parties — CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML — decided to constitute a taskforce to forge consensus on issues related to peace process, ame-ndment to interim constitution and power-sharing in the new government.A meeting of the three parties scheduled for tomorrow would announce the ... ...of the taskforce, which would work out a draft on these key issues.“A taskforce comprising representatives of the three major parties will work out a draft on the issues,” Maoist chairman Prachanda told mediapersons after holding talks with NC leaders at the Maoist parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar.Prachanda said the bilateral meetings with the NC and UML were moving in positive direction and that they would be able to reach a consensus before the CA meets on Tuesday.He said they discussed the issues related to the peace process — including adjustment of the Maoist combatants, ending barrack-style structure of the YCL, returning seized property to rightful owners and providing relief to the families of martyrs — amendment to the interim constitution and sharing of power among the major parties in the new government.The statute amendment would include replacement of the existing two-third majority provision to form or oust a government with simple majority and removal of the references of seven-party alliance and interim parliament.NC spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC said today’s talks were positive as the Maoists were ready to make necessary amendments to the interim constitution, including the majority provision.After the talks with the Maoists, UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari said they were close to a consensus on the process of electing a ceremonial head of the state and executive prime minister. President and Vice President would be elected with a simple majority of the CA but it will require a two-third majority to remove them from the office, Adhikari said. He said they were close to an understanding on adjusting the Maoist combatants within three months from the date of the formation of the new government.Meanwhile, addressing a welcome function organised by Ganatantrik Samanwaya Manch in honour of 20 CA members elected from the Kochila State Council at Balmiki Campus, Prachanda said NC president GP Koirala should not be given an “additional burden of the presidential post”, as he is too old and too frail to handle the daily jobs of the state.“Home Minister KP Sitaula met me this morning with a proposal that GP Koirala may resign from the party’s general membership if we agree on Koirala’s name for the country’s first President,” Prachanda said.“Instead of giving him a stressful job at such an old age, we want to make him the guardian of the 25 parties in the CA,” he told mediapersons.He also said they would have no problem in incorporating a constitutional provision of a simple majority to form and remove the government if other parties guaranteed that they would not indulge in “filthy practice of toppling the government before the completion of its tenure”.• Big Three agree to form a panel to forge consensus on statute amendment, power sharing • CA to elect President, Vice-President thru simple majority: UML • Maoists agree to amend constitution in favour of simple majority to form or oust govt combatants likely within three months: UML • Sitaula tells Prachanda Koirala will quit NC membership if • Prachanda says GP too old to bear more responsibility

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