Peace process in the end.

KATHMANDU, APR 30 -

At a time when cross-party talks have failed to resolve disputes in constitution making, senior CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal on Sunday shared prospects of a “short-term” extension of the Constituent Assembly term.

The CA tenure expires on May 27. The former prime minister was addressing a meeting of the Constitutional Committee. Nepal briefed the committee on the efforts being made by leaders of major parties to find common ground.

“The situation is very fluid. There might be an agreement on all contentious issues immediately or it may require some more time,” a participant quoted Nepal as saying.

“In case of time constraints, we should bring the first draft within Jestha 14 (May 27) and go for a term extension until Asadh (June) to promulgate the new constitution.” Nepal briefed the committee after Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who heads the Dispute Resolution Subcommittee, requested him to do so.

“Madhavjee was not in a mood to speak and made two attempts to leave the hall to attend a meeting of top leaders. He spoke after receiving a telephone call from Prachanda jee who urged him to brief the lawmakers in his absence,” a source said. Nepal, a key negotiator on constitutional issues, represents the UML in the Dahal-led subcommittee.

Nepal’s statement contradicts with the Supreme Court’s ruling that bars parties from extending the tenure of the CA. Rastirya Janamorcha Party lawmaker Chitra Bahadur KC suggested the top leaders give up thinking about a fresh extension. “The crux of the matter is federalism,” KC said in the Constitutional Committee meeting. “Parties should put aside federalism for now and promulgate the new constitution.”

A Maoist leader said his party supports Nepal’s views. “We think that we will be able to prepare the first draft and reach an agreement on formation of a national unity government within the remaining time frame,” said a leader close to Dahal.

Dahal is learnt to have told his close associates that the CA term can be extended for three months if the first draft is had within the May 27 deadline. 

NC leader Ramesh Lekhak, however, said discussions on yet another extension will be ‘futile.’ “We cannot extend the term of the CA even for a day after the end of its deadline. That will be unconstitutional,” he said.