Nepal parties agree to defer Constituent Assembly's calendar to resolve disputes

KATHMANDU: Nepal's political parties have agreed to amend the Constituent Assembly's work schedule to sort out differences over contentious issues in framing the much-awaited Constitution within the stipulated time frame of January 22, 2015.

"The meeting of Political Dialogue Consensus Committee (PDCC) representing different political parties, agreed to change the Constituent Assembly's calendar so as to resolve disagreements among them regarding the disputed issues," said Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary Prakash Man Singh.

Forms of governance, number of federal units and model of state restructuring are the key issues on which political parties are yet to forge a consensus.

They, however, reiterated their resolve to base the document on federal, democratic and republican principles.

As per the working schedule of the CA, all disputes regarding the constitution drafting are required to be cleared up by September 7.

"As we need more time to hold discussion on the vexed issues of the constitution, we have decided to ask the Constituent Assembly to amend the working schedule without affecting the January 22 deadline of promulgating the new constitution," he said.

The political parties decided to amend the working schedule after holding meeting of the PDCC at the recommendation of the three major parties and 28 fringe parties.