Top leaders agree to call CA meeting in a fortnight

The much awaited meeting of the top leaders of the ruling coalition partners concluded on Friday, agreeing to call the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly in a fortnight.

The first meeting of the top leaders of the ruling coalition after the April 10 polls was held at the Prime Minister's residence today morning.

However, the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi), one of the constituents
of the seven-party alliance (SPA), stayed out of the meeting due to internal party wrangling.

As per the interim constitution, the first meeting of the CA, which is set to abolish monarchy and declare Nepal a republic, is to be convened within the next 20 days with the Election Commission publishing the final results of the election yesterday.

Apart from suggesting the Prime Minister to call the first sitting of the CA within May 25 to 29 after consulting with all the political parties both within the SPA and outside, the meeting also decided to constitute a taskforce of top leaders to submit its recommendation on pressing matters that includes power sharing in the new government, declaration of the country as a republic and prepare the working procedures and agenda for the first CA meeting, and nominating 26 CA members, according to Nepali Congress leader Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, one of the participants of the meeting.

He told Nepalnews.com that the taskforce will also recommend how to enhance cooperation among the parties and also accommodate new parties
like Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and other Terai-centric parties in future meetings.

The taskforce constitutes Ram Chandra Poudel and Bimalendra Nidhi of NC; Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Krishna Bahadur Mahara of CPN-Maoist; Jhala Nath Khanal and Bhim Rawal of CPN-UML; C.P Mainali of CPN-ML, Lila Mani Pokharel and Ghanashyam Sharma of People's Front Nepal and Prem Suwal of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP).

The taskforce would start its work from today but it hasn't been given a fixed timeframe to submit its report. Dr Mahat said the next meeting of the top leaders of the seven parties would take place soon after the taskforce submits its report.

Maoist chairman Prachanda, his deputy Dr Bhattarai and top leaders of the six parties were present in the meeting.