Top parties agree on a ‘republic’ Nepal

Political parties, primarily the top three constituents of the ruling seven party alliance...

Political parties, primarily the top three constituents of the ruling seven party alliance, worked out a deal on Thursday to describe Nepal as a republic in the interim Constitution, leaving it to the Constituent Assembly when elected to implement it. The parties also agreed to adopt a modified mixed electoral system in which the number of seats in the constituent assembly will be 60 per cent.

Prime Minister G P Koirala, under threat from the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists to go republic or quit, opted for the first. All this is being done to pave the way for elections to the Constituent Assembly by mid-April.

However, the coalition hardly analysed the emerging situation in Terai where at least four parliamentarians resigned from their parties and demanded a fair share to Terai in the power structure.

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According to a senior leader, Koirala will also act as the head of the state as well pending election while it will maintain total silence on the status of King Gyanendra. After amendment, the interim Constitution will make it binding on the future CA to endorse the republican formula.

The Government has also agreed to ‘reintegrate’ combatants of the Maoist party into the Nepal army soon after the United Nations Mission to Nepal is completed.

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