Constituent amendment only after elections: Gyawali

KATHMANDU, July 15: Pradip Gyawali, Secretary of the main opposition CPN-UML has argued that the constitution should not be amended before the conduction of all three levels of election.

“Conduction of election is the primarily important. We can think about the amendment of the constitution after the completion of elections,” said Gyawali while speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Saturday.

“UML is not an obstruction to the amendment of the constitution. The government should withdraw the current bill, and then we will become ready to carry out fresh discussion,” he said.

Gyawali also accused the government to have shown dual character while holding talks with his party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). “First, the ruling parties agree with the UML that the amendment process will be done after the conduction of the elections. Then, they tell the RPP that UML have already agreed to vote in favor of the bill. It’s cheating,” he said.

Gyawali further said that UML is against increasing the number of lawmakers. He added, “We reject the idea. It is not acceptable to us.” He also urged the government to form election constituencies’ determination commission as soon as possible.