Nepal crisis ends after crucial deal

Assembly term extended

The breakthrough came after overnight consultations between main political parties — Nepali Congress, the Maoists and CPN-UML — to forge a five-point agreement on the peace process and extending the term of CA which expired on Saturday night.

Out of 508 parliament members, 504 lawmakers voted in the favour of the bill for the ninth amendment of the Constitution seeking to extend the term of the CA for three months.

Khanal, who assumed office about four months ago, offered to resign to pave way for formation of a national unity government and to start regrouping the Maoist combatants for the purpose of integration under the deal.

“The bill was endorsed by more than the required two-third majority vote,” announced chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subhash Nemwang. However, the 71 lawmakers of Democratic Madhesi Front boycotted the voting process saying that the major parties failed to address their three-point demand.

Talkathon

The agreement was reached in the wee hours after a marathon meeting between ruling CPN-UML leader and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist chief Prachanda and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala.

There was fear that the country would plunge into a political crisis if there was no agreement on extension of the Constituent Assembly. Last year also, Nepal had extended the term of the CA by one year.

Meanwhile, Khanal said he will resign after an alternative is prepared for the formation of a national government.

“I will resign at a time when alternative is prepared for the national government and its formation is materialised,” Khanal said. He said that the peace process will meet the logical conclusion in three months.

Maoist chairman Prachanda said they had worked hard expecting that the draft of the new constitution will come within three months.