KATHMANDU, July 24: Leaders of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) have said that the Constituent Assembly (CA) could be revived in order to endorse the new constitution, if political parties agree on issues of federalism.
In a two-and-a-half hour meeting with President Ram Baran Yadav at Shital Niwas on Tuesday morning, Madhesi leaders maintained that changing the government without forging consensus on issues of the new constitution would invite further crisis in the country.
"We told the president that the CA could be revived to get the draft constitution endorsed," said Chairman of Sadbhawana Party and Health Minister Rajendra Mahato, adding, “The number of federal states as recommended by the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) should be endorsed by parliament within three months after parliamentary election."
According to him, UDMF leaders stated that Nepali Congress (NC) could lead a national consensus government after parties forge consensus on contentious issues of the new constitution.
"We are ready to accept a national consensus government-led by NC in accordance with the five-point agreement after resolving the contentious issues," he added.
Mahato said the political parties should be prepared for fresh CA polls if they fail to forge consensus. "There is no alternative to holding a fresh CA election if parties fail to reach consensus," he stated.
According to Acting Chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R) Rajkishor Yadav, who is also information and communications minister, Madhes based parties urged the president to support the government´s ordinances.
In response, President Yadav said that the major three political parties and UDMF should take initiatives to find a way out of the current political impasse.
"I urge the political parties to be serious regarding forging consensus. I am ready to extend necessary support," Mahato quoted President Yadav as saying.
The president also stressed that the ruling parties should take the opposition into confidence to before taking any political move.
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