Responding to their concerns, Regmi suggested to the leaders to settle inter-party differences over some crucial election provisions through a political understanding and offer suggesttions to the government accordingly. [break]
"I urge you to come up with appropriate proposals from the high level political committee on moving ahead by ensuring elections," a statement issued by Regmi´s secretariat quoted him as saying at the meeting with the NC and UML leaders.
No compromise on poll-related provisions: NC, UML
However, leaders from Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have reiterated that they would not compromise on the new provisions proposed for fresh Constituent Assembly election.
While leaders of the two parties have been insisting implementation of the proposed poll-related provisions, including eligibility threshold for seats under proportional quota, the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) submitting a memorandum to Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi expressed serious objection against the proposed poll-related provisions.
As per the new provision drafted and proposed by the Election Commission (EC), a political party must secure at least one percent of the total valid votes cast during the election to be eligible for seats under proportional representation quota in the CA polls.
Similarly, other provisions relate to downsizing of Constituent Assembly (CA) and barring persons with criminal background from contesting election for six years after he/she has served the jail term.
"We [NC and UML leaders] remain firm on the proposed provisions and we will not back out," NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel told media persons after the two-party meeting held at UML head office in Balkhu.
But NEFIN leaders have taken a strong exception to the proposed provisions saying they would further deprive marginalized communities of representation in the constitution drafting process.
"Our demand is that the threshold provision must not be introduced and the number of seats to be allocated under the proportional quota mustn´t be reduced under any pretext," Nagendra Kumal told Republica after submitting the memorandum to Regmi.
NEFIN members also met UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and urged the latter not to lobby for the proposed provisions.
"We found both Regmi and Khanal positive about our concerns and we are hopeful that they wouldn´t go against public sentiments," said Kumal.
The draft ordinance proposes 491-member CA, while the CA previously had 601 members. If this provision is introduced, the number of seats under proportional quota will also definitely go down.
NC and UML have been lobbying for the proposed provisions while UCPN (Maoist), some fringe parties along with ethnic groups have strongly opposed them.
Paudel said that they can´t be flexible on the provision relating to candidates with criminal background. "UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is trying to politicize criminal activities and criminalize politics. This is not acceptable to us," said Paudel.
Paudel also said that the parties wouldn´t deviate from the political course charted out by the 11-point political agreement that paved the way for removal of Baburam Bhattarai-led government and formation of the present government.
NC,UML to ask Baidya, Yadav to join HLPC
Also, the two-party meeting decided to include Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and Upendra Yadav´s Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) in the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) in order to create favorable environment for elections.
Baidya´s Maoist and Yadav´s Forum have been terming the HLPC, which is comprised of UCPN (Maoist), NC, UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front, a syndicate of the four parties.
"We at today´s meeting decided to take initiatives to include CPN-Maoist and MPRF in HLPC," said UML leader Raghuji Pant. "We are for formally floating the proposal at the HLPC meeting to include them in the political committee."
Related story
Prez Paudel assures constitutional solutions, appeals for calm
