A day after Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly could be a possible way out of the current impasse, leaders across party lines seem to be taking the idea positively.Former Prime Ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba and Madhav Kumar Nepal told Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Wednesday that the resurrection of the CA could be an option. Leaders of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, who had flatly rejected such an idea until Tuesday, also indicated that they could think about it. All the leaders, however, had different roadmaps and preconditions for the CA’s rebirth. Deuba and Nepal said the CA’s resurrection could be one of the options, but Bhattarai must step down immediately for that.
Morcha leaders also have a precondition—that the parties must meet some of their demands, including a 10-province model of federalism proposed by the majority members of the State Restructuring Commission.
On Monday, President Ram Baran Yadav had reportedly conveyed to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that giving a fresh lease of life to the CA could be discussed as one of the options if that helps parties forge consensus.
PM Bhattarai called on Deuba and Nepal as part of his political consultations that began on Wednesday. Sources said the PM, who had so far ruled out other options apart from the elections, has also started mulling over the idea of CA revival. There are, however, no differences of opinion among the parties on going for elections after the political process moves ahead. “The PM’s resignation must come first. Only then can the parties forge consensus on unresolved issues and look for alternatives,” NC leader Prakash Sharan Mahat quoted Deuba as saying in the meeting with the PM. Deuba, however, suggested the PM revive the CA only after settling unresolved issues of the constitution “by any means—national referendum or concrete agreement.”
Meanwhile, Madhesi Morcha leaders said CA restoration must happen after forging agreement on contentious issues of state restructuring.“The option of reviving the CA could be explored if other parties agree on state restructuring on the report of the majority members of the State Restructuring Commission,” Co-Chairman of Sadhbhawana Party Laxman Lal Karna said. He, however, clarified that the alliance is yet to take a formal decision on this.
Leader of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party-Nepal Dan Bahadur Chaudary also said the Morcha could talk CA revival if the parties agree on a 10-state model. He said he was confident that the alliance will agree to the CA idea if that guarantees a constitution that ensures identity-based federalism.
