Nepal Govt plans to extend CA term by a year

With just 11 days remaining for Nepal to adopt its new constitution, the ruling coalition government on Monday moved a bill seeking extension of the Constituent Assembly by a year.

Updated on: May 17, 2010, 18:44:14 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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With just 11 days remaining for Nepal to adopt its new constitution, the ruling coalition government on Monday moved a bill seeking extension of the Constituent Assembly by a year.

The move comes at a time when the main opposition party-UCPN (Maoist) is opposing extension of the CA tenure till the government is removed and a national unity government led by them formed.

The deadline for adopting a new constitution and the tenure of the CA expires on May 28. Political impasse due to differences between the government and the Maoists has severely affected the constitution drafting process.

Amendment of the interim constitution that allows extension of the CA tenure is possible with two-third support from a total of 601 members. It seems impossible as Maoists have over one-third representation.

"We have tabled the bill with the hope that the Maoists will support it keeping in view the people's aspirations," said Minister for Culture Minendra Rijal.

Earlier in the day, the cabinet approved the decision to extend the CA tenure. Ten parties in the ruling coalition also extended their support for the purpose.

On Sunday, the UCPN (M) politburo had decided to announce a draft constitution from the streets on May 29-a day after completion of tenure of the present CA and coinciding with Republic Day.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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