Nepal's ruling party stresses effective implementation of new constitution

The Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), now leading the coalition government in the country, has stressed consensus among major political forces for effective implementation of the new constitution promulgated in September last year.

A standing committee meeting of the ruling CPN (UML) held on Saturday evening concluded that the major parties should forge consensus on implementation of the new constitution for the sake of national interests and protecting country's independence and sovereignty.

"The meeting urged all political forces to forge consensus on implementation of the new Constitution. Our party believes that this is a high time to go for effective implementation of the new Constitution for the sake of national interests and protecting sovereignty and independence of the country," Secretary of the ruling CPN (UML), Yogesh Bhattarai, told local media on Sunday morning.

"Our nationalism is in crisis now. So it needs unity inside the party and outside the party to tackle with the external forces," the prime minister told the party leaders while addressing the Standing Committee meeting, local media reports said.

Prime Minister Oli stressed on strong unity among political parties inside the country as the external forces are making "conspiracies" to topple the current government behind the curtain, reports further said.

The ruling party CPN (UML)'s latest statement has come at a time when the agitating Madhes-based political parties and the main opposition party Nepali Congress have stressed on changing the current regime in the country and formulate new government under the leadership of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Oli, who was appointed as the 38th prime minister of the country in October last year, seems determined not to renounce the power till the upcoming parliamentary elections which should be held within February 2018 in accordance with the constitutional provisions.

"The government was formed under my leadership to implement the new constitution and pave ways for the country to achieve economic prosperity maintaining political stability. My government will hold local bodies' elections and parliamentary elections both in near future," the prime minister told reporters a few days ago in Kathmandu.

Effective implementation of the new constitution has become an uphill task for Oli-led government in Nepal as the Madhes-based fringe parties are continuing their agitation against the constitution, seeking better representation in the parliament, experts said.

Rounds of talks between the government and agitating Madhes-based parties had ended inconclusively on making fresh amendments in the new constitution.

The Nepalese Parliament had made the first amendment to the new constitution in January addressing the major demands of the Madhes-based parties.

The first amendment had ensured higher representation in the government bodies on the basis of proportional inclusion of the Madhesis as well as other marginalised communities.

However, the agitating Madhes-based fringe parties were unconvinced with this constitution amendment saying that it failed to address their core demand of fresh demarcation of provincial boundaries. Enditem