The NC is the only major party that has so far failed to submit its federal model to the CA committee.
The NC´s own State Restructuring Committee headed by Gopal Man Shrestha had presented a federal model at the party´s Central Working Committee, after incorporating earlier feedback. But the new proposal has also failed to avert criticism.
The new proposal, amended as per suggestions from CWC members, envisages 16 federal states, including four in the Tarai region.
However, the NC is unlikely to forge a consensus on the proposal before the fresh deadline set by the CA committee expires Monday as the proposal has come under fire from a large number of CWC members.
During the CWC meeting Thursday, a majority of party leaders including Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Gobinda Raj Joshi and Chiranjivi Wagle had argued that the proposal delineates the federal states randomly and without any ´underlying basis´. They argued that the party should first develop ´theoretical grounds´ for delineating the federal states.
Some CWC members even contested the desirability of federalism in Nepal, although the interim constitution already envisages a federal Nepal.
“It is not good to blindly opt for federalism just because 28 countries in the world have gone for it,” a CWC member quoted dissident members as saying. “We should develop concrete ´theoretical ground´ as we are embracing federalism in a unique situation.”
The CWC meeting scheduled for Sunday will hold further debate on the amended proposal.
Talking to myrepublica.com, Dr Mahat said it is not economically viable to have 16 federal states in a small country like Nepal. “This is something to be decided on the basis of national consensus,” he said.
Dr Mahat pointed out the need for discussion on the issue in terms of technical and economic viability, not on the basis of what political whim dictates. “How can a federal state be put together our of four hill districts [as suggested in the amended proposal]?” he asked.
Party sources said the CWC is unlikely to arrive at consensus any time soon as the party is sharply divided.
Mahat said they could arrive at consensus on the basic principles of federalism such as tiers of government, devolution of powers and grounds for delineating federal states. “ The party is less likely to come up with its official proposal before the CA State Restructuring Committee,” he said. “There could be one for debate, but not as the party´s official proposal.”
The CWC member said it is likely that the CWC will take more time to finalize the proposal as none of the conflicting CWC members have come up with concrete ideas about on what basis and how the federal states should be carved out.
NC State Restructuring Committee head Gopal Man Shrestha said most CWC members have approved the amended proposal. “Though the amended proposal has tried to incorporate the sentiments of people from various parts of the country it has failed to be unanimous yet,” he admitted.
koshraj@myrepublica.com
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