But the main opposition party has attached riders for the formation of such a panel, saying that there should be progress on the key contentious issues of the peace process such as modality of integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants, numbers, standard integration norms and relief and compensation to those affected by the Maoist armed conflict, according to NC General Secretary Prakash Man Singh. [break]
“The Nepali Congress is ready to accept the expert panel on state restructuring provided the key issues of the peace process are settled first,” Singh told Republica about the decision of the party’s Central Committee late Thursday night.
With this development, the major parties in the Constituent Assembly are closer to an agreement on formation of an expert panel for state restructuring and for ending differences over state restructuring mechanism, as the other major parties are already in favor of the panel.
Earlier, the NC had taken the position that a state restructuring commission should be formed as per constitutional provisions, something opposed by the Maoist and Madhes-based parties. NC reviewed its position after the other parties floated a proposal at the sub-committee of the Constitutional Committee last Saturday on forming an expert panel as a middle way to end the deadlock over state restructuring mechanism.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress central working committee saw heated debate till late Thursday evening over the proposal to dissolve four wings of the party, with the party establishment and the Deuba faction standing for and against the proposal.
Party General Secretary Singh on Wednesday proposed to dissolve the party’s women, youth, indigenous and ex-armymen’s wings, stating that their terms had expired and accusing them of being ineffective. He proposed holding the elections of their central committees within a year. The wings are controlled by the Deuba faction.
Related story
Expert panel submits report on disputed border region with Indi...
