KATHMANDU: Most of the political parties in Nepal are now geared up for preparing their election manifestos in view of the upcoming Constituent Assembly election scheduled for November 19.

Election manifesto generally reflects party’s views about the form of governance, the form of federalism, the economic policy, foreign policy and ways of social transformation.

With major political changes in the country, the Nepali people realized that the Constituent Assembly election was essential to draft their constitution. Although the first CA was dissolved without giving the Nepali people a new constitution, the Nepalis again decided to go for the second CA election to materialize their dream of promulgating a new constitution through the CA. People are curious about the nature of manifestos that political parties are going to bring out.

The UCPN (Maoist) which was the single largest party in the first CA has expedited the task of writing election manifesto with forming ‘manifesto drafting committee’ that comprises Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Gopal Kirati, Bishwabhakta Dulal, Dharmabhakta Devkota and Dilliraj Khanal.

We will include the party views about federalism along with identity, form of governance along with directly elected President, progressive social transformation and self-sufficient economy in the election manifesto, party spokesperson Agni Prasad Sapkota said.

The Nepali Congress which had become the second largest party in the first CA has already formed a committee under the convenorship of party Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel to prepare the election manifesto. The 15-member committee comprises Gopalman Shrestha, KB Gurung, Bimalendra Nidhi, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Arjun Narsingh KC, Mahesh Acharya and Narhari Acharya, among others.

However, the UML has not prepared anything to draft the manifesto so far.

Likewise, the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) headed by Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar formed a seven-member manifesto drafting committee under the convenorship of party general secretary Jitendra Dev.

The Rastriay Prajatantra Party is learnt to have started homework for the election manifesto constituting a committee under the leadership of Haribahadur Basent.

KATHMANDU: A meeting of major four political powers—UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Madhesi Morcha—is underway at the Secretariat of the Army Integration Special Committee.

Nepal’s major political parties despite their agreement to form an election government under the leadership of the sitting Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi are still at odds to strike a deal.

The meeting is expected to iron out all the thorniest issues pertaining to top post given to the ex Maoist combatants who are already integrated in to the Nepal Army and the formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

However, nearly 20 fringe parties including those represented in the disbanded CA and Nepal’s most radical communist party CPN-Maoist have challenged the major parties’ homework to form the CJ-led government. They also announced to protest if the CJ was given the leadership of the new government.

KATHMANDU: A meeting of the four major political powers—UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Madhesi Morcha—concluded recently with a ‘decision’ to form the CJ-led election government by Wednesday after the leaders yet again disagreed on the top post to be given to the ex Maoist fighters and contents of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

After the meeting, CPN (UML) Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam said that the parties are likely to form the CJ-led government by tomorrow.

However, the top leaders have yet to strike a deal in controversial deal including the top rank to be given to the former Maoist fighters who are already integrated into the Nepal Army and formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The meeting has entrusted the responsibility to the eight-member political task force to remove all constitutional difficulties.

Currently, an all-party meeting represented in the disbanded CA is underway. The parties would be informed about the agreements made by the top leaders of the major political parties.

Earlier, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had said that the parties agreed on all issues except few points.

KATHMANDU: A meeting of major political forces scheduled for today has been postponed. The meeting was expected to take a final decision to execute the Chief Justice-led government.

A source close to UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said that the meeting has been postponed till Thursday. However, the parties would hold internal parleys in the party meetings to remove the legal and constitutional obstacles on the CJ-led government.

Moreover, the parties are at odds over formation of truth and reconciliation commission, Prime Minister’s resignation and rank determination to the former Maoist fighters integrated into the Nepal Army.

Top leaders of four major political parties–UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Madhesi Morcha–would consult some selected lawyers and constitutionalists on one of the thorniest issues of the hour.

The meeting is scheduled to hold at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singhadurbar.

The legal experts are also divided over the issue of the CJ-led government as a section is welcoming this step while others oppose the CJ-led government stating that it would mock the rule of law and principle of power separations.

The meeting would begin at the President House after the UML makes its final decision on the CJ-led government from the emergency CC meeting.

The President and top leaders of the major political forces would also discuss the name, forms and size of the election government, to be mostly dominated by the nonpolitical figures.

The major political parties are holding discussions on the CJ-led government after the UCPN (Maoist) endorsed a decision from its seventh general convention held in Hetauda nearly 10 days ago.  The UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and other leaders are saying that this was the last and best formula to end the latest political deadlock in the country.

It is learnt that major political parties have almost agreed on the CJ-led government but some issues including the rights of the government, members to be appointed, date for fresh elections and provision to call back the government if it fails to hold the CA elections, among  others are left to sort out by the top leaders.

KATHMANDU: Four major political parties that held talks today with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav also failed to hammer the deadlock and form an election government to ensure the CA elections by May.

The recently concluded meeting also made no headway regarding the CJ-led government. Earlier, the major political were expected to form the CJ-led election government. The leaders have agreed to meet at 3:00 pm tomorrow.

Like on Thursday, today’s meeting also postponed upon the request of the CPN (UML) leaders as they asked time with other parties’ leaders saying that the UML would take a final decision from its ongoing central committee meeting on Saturday.

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Vice-chairmen Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Nepali Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, Vice-President Ram Chandra Poudel, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, leader KP Oli, general secretary Ishwor Pokhrel and Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Mahendra Yadav from the Madhesi Morcha were present at the meeting in the President House.

KATHMANDU: Just a day after the opposition parties staged an anti-government demonstration in the capital, the ruling political parties also organized a mass meeting in the capital today as their strength show in defence of power.

Top leaders of the ruling parties including UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, among other leaders addressed the mass meeting.

Addressing the mass meeting, former prime minister and coordinator of the ruling alliance also dubbed as Federal Democratic Republican Alliance (FDRA), Prachanda urged the opposition to shake hands with the ruling parties sooner than later.

“Don’t delay. Come for consensus and go for elections. Otherwise it would cost dearer to NC and UML,” Prachanda urged the opposition.  Prachanda also called the NC and UML leaders for consensus by quitting their arrogance to hold the fresh CA elections by mid-June.  “We want to take the NC and UML together for being the signatories of the 12-point agreement but time will not wait for you if you fail to feel the pulse of  the time.”

Also speaking at the same program, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said that the present government was really committed to empowering the people and ensuring federalism and new constitution through the new CA elections.

Prime Minister Bhattarai said that the government thinking to take the opposition parties together if they were corrected. “Anti-republican forces’ desire to remain in power is ridiculous,” he said. The Prime Minister also said that the government was ready for journalists’ security and freedom of press and freedom of expression.

Addressing the mass meeting of the FDRA , he said the government was not wishing for political polarization as there was no option to joining hands together to institutionalize the achievements.

On the occasion, the PM said, “We are cleaning the piles of garbage produced during the bad governance of the NC and UML.”

The mass meeting organized by the Federal Democratic Ruling Alliance (FDRA), an alliance of 21 ruling parties, is underway at Khulamunch.

Addressing the meeting, Chairman of Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party Mahantha Thakur said present political deadlock was continuing as the opposition parties were just seeking power instead of really wishing to end the deadlock.

Similarly, Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik)and Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar urged the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) to accept the demand for federalism. He said, “They (NC and UML) are anti-federalist forces. You have to quit the trend of just criticizing the coalition parties.”

So far, Chairman of Sadbhavana Party Rajendra Mahato, Chairman of Dalit Janajati Part Biswendra Paswan, Chairman of Forum (Republican) Raj Kishor Yadav and Chairman of Nepal Pariwar Dal Yek Narayan Dhakal addressed the mass meeting. During their speeches, most of the leaders slammed the opposition parties for not being ready to face the elections and sticking to the traditional mindset.

Earlier, the rallies taken out by the ruling parties passed through different parts of the town prior to thronging the Khullamunch.