Party leaders decided to seek fringe parties’ opinion on disputed issues of the statute writing process. Though, the four political parties – Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-Maoist and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic – have claimed that they are close to a deal on six provinces, they have today decided to hold discussions with smaller parties to seek their opinion on number of provinces.
The ruling coalition – Nepali Congree and CPN-UML – have been pressing on six-province model of federalism. They claimed that more than province will not be economically feasible. But the major parties are still at odds over whether or not to mandate provincial assemblies to name their province.
Likewise, the UPCN-Maoist has said that it can agree on the names provided the provinces are named based on identity before the new statute is promulgated.
The smaller parties have been asking the major parties to ensure the rights of minorities and backward communities in the constitution.
The top leaders of four political parties are making efforts to forge consensus on the key contentious issue of federalism, said Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak. “The parties are trying to forge consensus on six-state model,” he said, adding that top leaders are also planning to talk to fringe parties.
The parties have been working on the finalise constitution before forming a national consensus government. But today morning’s meeting has been cancelled due to absence of CPN-UML chairman K P Oli, who is eager to lead the national consensus government. He fell ill.
According to the UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML, as the incumbent government failed to provide relief to the earthquake victims, it has to be changed, after finalising the constitution within a month.

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