Kathmandu, April 29: A new constitution for Nepal is unlikely to be promulgated by the May 28 deadline, amid a deadlock among the political parties over key issues linked to the peace process, federal structure and electoral system.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khannal, during a meeting with Sushil Koirala, the president of the main Opposition Nepali Congress, had hinted that more time may be required to fulfill the task of drafting the constitution.
The Government will expedite the work relating to constitution drafting by promulgate the statue as soon as possible, Khannal had said. Khanal, who was elected the Prime Minister on February 3 after 17 attempts over a seven-month period, is yet to sort out differences over power sharing with his key ally Maoists.
Political parties in the country are deadlocked over some of the key issues of the peace process, including the fate of the former Maoist combatants, amid demands by the ex-rebels for their en masse integration with the security forces.
Nepal Maoists, who ended its decade-long civil war in 2006 and emerged as the single largest party in the 2008 Assembly election, have deep differences with the mainstream parties.
The non-Maoist parties have made it clear that drafting a democratic constitution and concluding the peace process was not possible unless the Maoists agree to manage their combatants, return the seized property and dismantle their paramilitary youth wing, Young Communist League.
Bimalendra Nidhi, a top leader of the Nepali Congress, said the constitution is unlikely to be promulgated within the May 28 deadline due to the Maoists’ non-cooperation.
-PTI–