Dispute delays National Assembly formation process

KATHMANDU, Dec 14: The process to endorse law on the formation of the National Assembly (NA) has been stalled in lack of consensus among the political parties.

The law-making process has remained stagnant with the dispute among the parties whether to introduce the Single Transferable Vote (STV) for the formation of the National Assembly.

Leaders of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) are holding discussions on developing common understanding on the process of the formation of the National Assembly.

Maoist leader Ram Narayan Bidari, who attended the meetings, said the two parties’ leaders have almost come to a conclusion to go for Multiple Transferable System.

On the other, Nepali Congress has put its stance on Single Transferable Vote System. Legal expert and Nepali Congress leader Radheshyam Adhikari underscored the need of consultations among the parties on the formation of the National Assembly.

“This is the political issue so the parties should decide which electoral system – single or multiple – would be appropriate”, he added.

The ordinance on the formation of National Assembly is under consideration at the President’s Office.

The dispute among the parties on choosing the electoral system has halted the endorsement of National Assembly election bill in the parliament.

The federal parliament could not be formed in absence of the law on the formation of the National Assembly. Likewise, in absence of the House of Representatives and National Assembly, the number of Proportional Representation seats of the parties could not be determined which also prevents the process of forming a new government. RSS