India Timeline - Year 2014

January 1

Four cadres of the UCPN-M were injured during factional clash in Parsa District to protest the 'unilateral' decision of the party leadership in connection to selecting names of candidates for CA member under the PR system.

Two senior leaders of the UCPN-M - former vice-chairmen duo Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankaji Shrestha - lodged a written complaint against party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal asking him to amend the list of PR candidates.

Minister for Information and Communication Madav Poudel said that the election Government headed by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was now ready to handover the responsibility of running the country back to the political parties.

Chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Baidhya while addressing the central committee meeting of his party's student wing in Kathmandu advised UCPN-M Chairman Dahal to quit CA and join his boycott activities.

SC decreed against any bid to offer blanket amnesty to those alleged of serious human rights violation during the armed conflict (1996-2006). Delivering order in regard to a writ petition filed against the Ordinance on forming TRC, the apex court said that the offer of amnesty will be against the spirit of justice.

EC submitted the names of winners of CA elections to President Ram Baran Yadav. Out of 575, 240 candidates were elected under first-past-the-post FPTP electoral system and 335 under the PR system. 26 members are to be nominated by the Council of Ministers.

As the question of whether the President or the head of Government should call the first meeting of the new CA remains unresolved, President Ram Baran Yadav talked with chiefs of some parties including Bijay Gachchhadar of MPRF-D, Mahanth Thakur of Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party, Rajendra Mahato of Sadbhavana Party and Surya Bahadur Thapa of RPP at the President´s Office in Kathmandu.

UNHCHR Navi Pillay issuing a statement from the UNHCHR headquarters in Geneva welcomed the decision taken by the SC on January 2 against blanket amnesties for crimes committed during the 10-year conflict.

The meeting of the HLPC saw a heated debate and eventually concluded indecisively as top leaders from the constituent parties stood divided over whether or not to discuss the issue of who should summon the first CA meeting.

General Secretary of the NC, Prakash Man Singh said the President would call the CA meeting after the recommendation of the HLPC. Reminding that the first meeting of the last CA was called by then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who was also the head of the State at that time, it's the rule that President should call the CA meet.

SC issued an order in which it has instructed the concerned Government authorities to arrange people's right to 'no vote' implying that people can cast 'negative vote' during election. As per the apex court order, citizens will have the choice to negatively mark any candidate during election and stamp him/her as 'unwanted'.

CPN-UML and UCPN-M forged a common stance on whether or not to hold fresh election for the post of President and Vice-President. Leaders from the two parties shared similar views during talks held in Kathmandu, saying it would be a natural democratic practice to hold fresh elections for the posts.

NC President Sushil Koirala after a meeting with CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter's residence in Kathmandu said that the NC cannot even think about forming a Government without CPN-UML in it.

A group of nine RPP-N central committee members including Bal Krishna Neupane, Shastra Dutta Panta, Ganesh Sherchan and Indra Acharya filed a writ petition at the SC saying that the party was not fair in deciding the name list of PR members of the newly elected CA.

SC asked the Office of the President to furnish a reply by January 13 as to why the head of the Interim Council of Ministers cannot call the first meeting of the newly elected CA.

CC meeting of the UCPN-M has been postponed by one week to January 16 from January 10, owing to ongoing conflict among party Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior leaders.

President Ram Baran Yadav said "The first CA failed to deliver a new constitution, but it did lay the foundation stone for a republican set up while it accomplished the task of managing former Maoist combatants and their weapons successfully and institutionalised the achievements of the People's Movement 2006. These all are epoch-making achievements."

SC set a single date for hearing two opposing writ petitions on January 13 to decide whether the President or the IEC Chairmain has the right to call the first meeting of the CA.

Home Minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire called on NC President Sushil Koirala at the latter's residence in Kathmandu saying that his Interim Election Government is eager to hand over power to the political Government.

A senior leader of UCPN-M in Kathmandu said "We have asked NC and the CPN-UML to bring power-sharing proposal of the new Government. But we have not yet decided whether we will join the Government or not."

Three top leaders of the NC - Party President Sushil Koirala, his deputy Ramchandra Paudel and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba - started discussions. They all are eying to become the PP leader and each of them staked claim to the plum post.

A PIL was filed at the SC, seeking its directive to the yet-to-be formed CA and the Government to hold the elections for the posts of the President and the Vice-president. Advocate Om Prakash Aryal filed the petition.

NC Constitution Writing Suggestions Committee gave its CA members five days to submit their input for writing the new constitution.

Advocate Sallu Tiwari filed a writ petition at the SC demanding that the first meeting of the CA should be held only after the council of ministers nominates the remaining 26 seats.

Five times Prime Minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa (85) will take the first oath of office of the newly elected CA on January 20, being the oldest person. Thapa will take the oath from President Ram Baran Yadav, while the other CA members will take the oath from Thapa on January 21.

Chairman of the MJF-N Upendra Yadav said his party would not join the Government. Yadav said his party would give priorities to the constitution writing by staying in the opposition.

A day after the first meeting of the CA was scheduled for January 22 the CA Secretariat went into overdrive to chalk out the business of the first-day meeting, besides making preparations to swear in the Acting Chairman of the CA and 574 other members.

SC dismissed two writ petitions saying that it is now irrelevant to discuss whether the IEC Chairperson or the President should convene the first CA meeting.

CPN-UML hardened its position for holding new election for President and Vice President. CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel said that making amendments to the CA regulations, electing new President, Vice-President, CA chair and vice-chair, and Prime Minister should be done immediately after the new House session is commenced.

Secretary of CPN-Maoist Netra Bikram Chand while speaking at a press meet in Dhankuta District warned that his party will be forced to wage another revolt if there are attempts to write the new constitution by sidelining the party.

Top NC leaders dismissed the call for fresh Presidential election until a new constitution is promulgated during intra-party consultations held at NC President Sushil Koirala?s residence in Maharajgunj village in Kapilvastu District.

CPN-Maoist affiliated ANFA captured five Bigha land belonging to one Devilal Dhakal in Nawalparasi District. A team led by CPN-Maoist District Secretary Chhabilal Kharel hoisted party flag on Dhakal?s land. According to him, the party would distribute the land to the landless farmers.

Top three leaders of NC - Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel - speaking at a program in Kathmandu said that there is no such dispute and a new Government will be formed soon after building consensus among them.

Senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the country should focus on economic development along with ensuring a timely constitution as per the aspiration of the people.

RPP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said that it would be better, if the top three parties, NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M, form a new Government.

UCPN-M decided to adopt democratic exercise both in it internal affairs and external party relations, in tune with the changed context of the 21st century. In the political paper distributed among politburo members of the party, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal proposed multiparty exercise as the party´s future political line.

NC President Sushil Koirala said that the much-awaited new constitution will be promulgated within a year under any circumstances, adding that a referendum could be held to sort out contentious issues to ensure the same.

UCPN-M at the ongoing CC proposed holding local body elections only after the promulgation of the new constitution through the newly-elected CA. 

CPN-Maoist-led 33-party alliance, which has been questioning the purpose of the second CA decided to demonstrate against the CA on the day of its first meeting.

CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal speaking at an interaction at the Reporters? Club in Kathmandu said holding a fresh election of the President and Vice-President is not what his party has been demanding.

An early morning meeting between leaders of NC and UCPN-M in Kathmandu stated that all contentious issues will be decided upon with discussions between the top three parties this week. The two parties held talks on Government formation and other processes of the CA.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal told the NC leaders that his party was not rigid on the issue of re-election of the President and was ready to hold discussion on it.  NC President Sushil Koirala, Vice-president Ramchandra Paudel and general secretaries Prakash Man Singh and Sitaula met Dahal at his residence in Kathmandu to woo him in their bid to forge consensus on Government formation. 

Two persons were injured when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on them at Dhapakhel VDC in Lalitpur District. The injured have been identified as Minkrishna Maharjan (42) and Milan Silwal (25). 

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav summoned the first meeting of newly-elected Legislature Parliament on January 26 at International Convention Center, Kathmandu as per the Article 51 (1) of the Interim Constitution 2007.

A Council of Ministers? meeting recommended to the President to convene the meeting of Legislative Parliament on January 26. In the meeting it was decided that the meeting would be called four days after the first CA meeting on January 22.

NC President Sushil Koirala at the party?s Central Office in Lalitpur District said that agreeing on directly elected executive President as the UCPN-M are demanding would only give rise to dictatorship in the country.

A writ petition filed at the SC to prevent Lalendra Kumar Mandal, who has been nominated as a CA member by UCPN-M under PR electoral system from taking oath of office as he has been accused of the murder of one Ram Bilas Mandal.

The eldest CA member, Surya Bahadur Thapa (86) took the oath of office and secrecy from President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at a program held in Kathmandu. Thapa, five-time Prime Minister and Chairman of RPP, was elected as CA member under PR election system.

SFs are preparing to step up security in and around the ICC in Katmandu in view of the first meeting of the second CA, which will begin on January 22. Nepal Police will put in place necessary security measures around the CA complex on the day, taking into account possible threats resulting from rallies and protests.

Newly elected members of the CA that will draft a Constitution aimed at ending years of political turmoil in Nepal were sworn in at the Parliament Building in Kathmandu. The eldest member of the CA, Surya Bahadur Thapa, administered oath of office and secrecy to 570 members elected through direct voting and proportionate voting system.

Major political parties are planning to amend the existing CA regulation aiming at promulgating a new constitution within one year. Through the amendment, the parties want to have 15 committees downsized to tentatively three and specify timeframe for consensus, voting process and referendum if it is required on any issue.

The first meeting of the CA was convened at the ICC in Kathmandu to formally begin drafting the new constitution. Surya Bahadur Thapa, the senior-most member of CA, chaired the meeting at the ICC hall that unanimously endorsed the proposal of CA regulations 2065 to conduct CA and house business until a new regulation is formulated.

The first meeting of the CA was convened at the ICC in Kathmandu to formally begin drafting the new constitution. Surya Bahadur Thapa, the senior-most member of CA, chaired the meeting at the ICC hall that unanimously endorsed the proposal of CA regulations 2065 to conduct CA and house business until a new regulation is formulated.

NC published that the party will hold an election to choose its PP leader, who will be party's Prime Ministerial candidate. The election schedule as per which aspiring candidates will file their nominations on January 25 and anyone wishing to withdraw can do so by 5pm the same day. The voting will be held on January 26.

UCPN-M at its CC meeting in Kathmandu mulled for an alternative to party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as its PP leader in the new Parliament. The meeting discussed the name of Krishna Bahadur Mahara as PP leader.

The SC scrapped a writ demanding an election for the appointment of new President and Vice President stating that the tenure of President and Vice President would not end unless the promulgation of a new constitution or an amendment to the Article 36(c) of the interim constitution, maintaining it.

EC said that the local body elections was "imperative and customary" after the CA election adding that the Commission was ready to hold the local election if the soon-to-be-formed Government formulates necessary laws and also stipulates a date for it.

CPN-UML Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam said that his party wouldn´t backtrack on its stance for fresh election for the President and the Vice-President although the largest party NC is opposed to the idea of electing a new President.

CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya speaking at a program organized by RJF in Chitwan District threatened to launch protest programs if the major political parties keep on turning a deaf ear to his party's demand for the dissolution of the CA.

NC's top three leaders, President Sushil Koirala, Senior Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel stressed on the need to settle the internal disputes first so as to attain a national consensus.

To settle the row over PP leader, NC President Sushil Koirala asked senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to support him until the new statute is promulgated. NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula made the proposal on behalf of Koirala during a meeting with Deuba at the latter´s residence in Kathmandu.

UCPN-M's CC meeting in Katmandu was postponed until January 27, as the party Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal had come under sharp criticism for his political report and family involvement in the party.

President Ram Baran Yadav issued a seven-day deadline for the parties to form a new Government through consensus. He asked the parties to form the cabinet by February 2 in line with Article 38 (1) of the Interim Constitution.

NC President Sushil Koirala became the favourite to be Nepal's new Prime Minister after he was elected the leader of the NC PP defeating his competitor Sher Bahadur Deuba, a three-time former Prime Minister.

Speaking at the first meeting of the Parliament, leaders of political parties committed to drafting the Constitution within a year and reiterated their party positions on a number of issues.

A day after President Ram Baran Yadav urged the major political parties to form a consensus Government within a week, NC initiated talks with other political forces to form a coalition under its leadership.

UCPN-M leaders, after holding discussions for long in Kathmandu, decided to pick Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the PP leader to the CA.

The three major political parties - NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M - reached an agreement to take full ownership of the agreements reached during the first CA in order to draft and promulgate a new constitution within a year. They also agreed to form a taskforce for that purpose.

NC called an all party meeting to formally propose a consensus Government under its leadership. Although all 30 parties had been invited, RPP-Nepal and Madhesh-based parties did not attend the meeting.

The Government tabled six different ordinances, including one related to investigation into the forced disappearance and formation of TRC, during meeting of the Legislature-Parliament.

SC issued summons to UCPN-M lawmaker Lalendra Kumar Mandal for his alleged involvement in a murder. A single bench of Justice Prakash Wasti issued the summons responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Dinesh Tripathi seeking Mandal's arrest.

NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M postponed their plan to table a proposal to express commitment to promulgate a new constitution within one year by owning up the achievements of the first CA. They decided to postpone the plan after RPP-N a few parties objected to the whole idea.

The CC meeting of the UCPN-M in Kathmandu decided to organize a national organizational conference in coming April/ May to downsize the CC committee and make the organizational structure more manageable.

NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said that NC will not yield to the CPN-UML's demand for fresh Presidential election. Mahat ruled out Presidential election until a new constitution is promulgated.

A standing committee meeting of the CPN-UML decided to elect its PP leader through a vote on February 4 as the party could not nominate one through consensus.

UCPN-M central office comprising top four leaders met in Kathmandu along with the in-charges of different bureaus and decided to propose to the ongoing CC meeting that all the lower committees be dissolved. The meeting also decided to downsize the existing 268-strong CC of the party to two-digits.

Sushil Koirala said if a consensus Government could not be formed then the majority Government would have support from most of the parties in the CA. Koirala stated that the parties in the CA are unanimously saying the NC should form the new Government in its leadership.

CPN-UML asked NC to come up with a "suitable proposal" that will facilitate a "package deal" for the formation of a consensus Government in order to ensure a "respectable position" for the party in a possibly NC-led consensus Government.

NC holds an all-party meeting to form a national consensus Government. NC invited representatives of all 29 other parties and two independent lawmakers for the meeting.

A meeting of the Legislature-Parliament legitimized the CJ Khil Raj Regmi-led Government and CA elections. Although all CA members were elected on the basis of the same order, 14 CA members from MJF-N and NWPP voted against it.

The UCPN-M in Kathmandu formed a ´shadow cabinet´ and named ministers to criticize the policies and actions of the Government. The meeting also named shadow ministers and assigned them separate ministries.

As the deadline given earlier by President Ram Baran Yadav to form a national consensus Government expired today, NC urged the President to invite political parties to form majority-based Government.

CPN-UML Chairperson Jhalanath Khanal said that the party's PP leader would be selected through a consensus. Khanal claimed that there was no dispute in the party regarding the selection of the PP leader. The CPN-UML is scheduled to hold election to elect its PP leader on February 4.

A CPN-Maoist politburo meeting concluded that unity with the UCPN-M was still possible if the latter showed willingness to correct its political line of peace and statute adopted through the Hetauda Convention of February, 2013.

President Ram Baran Yadav asked the Legislature-Parliament to start the process to form a majority Government as per Article 38(2) of the Interim Constitution. The deadline to form a consensus Government as per Article 38(1) of the Interim Constitution expired on February 2.

A CC leader of NC, Minendra Rijal claimed that the NC-chaired Government will be set up by February 11. "The new Government will be a Government of maximum consensus, though a majority Government is going to be set up," Rijal added.

Mohan Baidya reiterated that only an all-party conference can provide an outlet to the national problems. Baidya claimed that the newly elected CA will not be able to deliver a constitution.

Senior leader of the CPN-UML, K.P. Oli defeated party Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal in the election of PP. Oli garnered 98 votes while Khanal was restricted to 75. The voting was conducted at the party's Parliamentary Party office in Kathmandu.

Parliament Spokesperson Mukunda Sharma at a meeting of Parliament's Business Advisory Committee said to hold the election for the post of Prime Minister on February 10.

Chairperson of IEC, Khil Raj Regmi said that the 26 CA members to be nominated by the Cabinet would take place soon after consensus is forged in the CA meeting to this end.

A section of NC CWC members urged the party leadership to keep the options of forming a coalition Government with other parties, including the UCPN-M open. They also maintained that the party heading the Government must keep the Home Ministry since the success of the sitting Government depends on the law and order situation.

The Parliament Secretariat set February 8 and 9 for filing candidacy. MP wishing to contest the Prime Ministerial election will have to file their nomination between 10:00am and 5:00pm. The list of candidates will be published at 5:30pm on February 9. Election for Prime Minister will take place on February 10.

Leader of the UCPN-M Posta Bahadur Bogati ruled out the possibility of unity with the CPN-Maoist for now. He said that no symptom has now been developed for unison with them.

CPN-Maoist formed UPC aiming to launch a struggle for the establishment of "peoples' government". UPC will launch protests for people's constitution and nationalism after mid-March. A meeting of sister wings appointed party secretary Dev Gurung as the coordinator of the committee.

CPN-UML Secretary Bishnu Poudel said that his party was in favour of a NC-led Government and would not field its candidate for Prime Ministerial election scheduled for February 10.

The Okhaldhunga District Court sentenced five UCPN-M cadres to life imprisonment for the murder of CPN-UML leader Chabbi Lal Karki at the Tara Hotel of Okhaldhunga District three years ago. Those found guilty of the murder are UCPN-M cadres Yadunath Ghimire, Tikaram Bhujel, Bimarsha Raj Ghimire, Nawaraj Basnet and Karki´s elder brother Dhan Bahadur Karki.

The three major political parties, NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M remain at odds over fresh elections for the President and Vice-President. While the NC continued to stand against fresh elections during the meeting of the legislature, the CPN-UML and UCPN-M demanded immediate elections for the two top-most posts through the newly-elected CA.

Police said Jhapa District, sharing its border with India's West Bengal state, has become a haven for members of various Indian underground armed outfits and criminal groups.

Newly-elected PP leader of CPN-UML K.P Oli demanded fresh election to choose a new President and Vice President without further delay. Oli said NC should come up with "suitable proposal" for the formation of a NC-led Government while adding that even if NC proposes that CPN-UML take the leadership of the soon-to-be-formed Government then the party is ready to do so.

NC President Sushil Koirala filed his nomination papers for the post of PM, after the CPN-UML, decided to extend support to a Government led by him.

The NC and CPN-UML forged a seven-point agreement on the eve of Prime Ministerial elections. In the deal, the CPN-UML agreed to lend support to elect Koirala as the PM and form a majority Government with both the parties taking part in it.

UCPN-M at a meeting of office bearers of the party in Kathmandu decided to stay in the opposition aiming to play a constructive role in constitution drafting. UCPN-M has also decided to forge an alliance with some Madhes-based and fringe parties to form a strong opposition front.

A meeting of the 16 political parties held at the UCPN-M's central party office in Kathmandu decided not to support NC Sushil Koirala in Prime Ministerial election.

NC President Sushil Koirala became Nepal's 37th Prime Minister securing more than two-thirds votes in Parliament nearly three months after the election was held in November. Koirala secured 405 out of the total 553 votes cast at the parliament meeting. Altogether, 148 lawmakers voted against his candidacy.

Following a meeting of the party's standing committee, CPN-UML announced that it would not join the Government if it was not given Home Ministry and Deputy Prime Ministership.

President Ram Baran Yadav said he was happy to see a new Prime Minister elected by people's representatives after a very long time and expressed confidence that the new Government he leads will draft the constitution on time.

The fourth meeting of the CA formed a 49-member CA Regulations Drafting Committee which will make necessary amendments to the previous regulations guiding the meeting procedures of the CA and the Parliament.

President Ram Baran Yadav asked Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to bring all parties to consensus to the extent possible during their first official meeting at Kathmandu.

Sushil Koirala categorically said no commitment was made to offer the Home portfolio to the CPN-UML as claimed by the latter. But, CPN-UML Vice Chairman and CA member Bamdev Gautam claimed that NC had agreed on February 9 that the CPN-UML would get the Home Ministry along with a Deputy Prime Minister.

NC central member and lawmaker, Sujata Koirala, said that it is better to provide the Ministry of Home Affairs to CPN-UML. Koirala said her party NC needs to respect the 'gentlemen's agreement' by allotting the Home Ministry to CPN-UML.

Commemorating the 19th 'People´s War' Day at separate functions in Kathmandu, both Maoist parties of UCPN-M and CPN-Maoist expressed regret over their split, realizing that the change movement launched by their 'People´s War' had weekend after the separation. The CPN-Maoist broke away from the UCPN-M in June 2012.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Kathmandu expressed his doubt as to whether a new constitution will be promulgated in one year as committed by the major political parties as NC and CPN-UML are fighting over one Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The first meeting of the 49-member CA Regulations Drafting Committee elected CA member Laxman Lal Karn as its Chairman. All the panel members were given two days to go through the existing CA and Legislature-Parliament Regulations and give their suggestions to the committee secretary in areas where they deem it necessary to make amendments.

UCPN-M at the PP meeting held in Kathmandu decided to collect NPR 12,000 a month from its 80 lawmakers in Parliament. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who is chief of the party´s parliamentary front, proposed collecting the amount from each lawmaker as levy to the party.

A CA meeting decided to hold election for the CA chairman at 5:00pm on February 18. CA General Secretary Manohar Prasad Bhattarai published the election programme, according to which the parties will have to forge consensus on a candidate for the CA chair.

A central committee and politburo member of CPN-UML Raghuji Panta claimed that a new Government will be formed under the leadership of CPN-UML Parliamentary Party leader, KP Oli, in the next 100 days.

A meeting of the party office bearers of the UCPN-M in Kathmandu decided not to join the Government as NC and CPN-UML have failed to reach a power sharing-deal.

NC parliamentary board after a meeting decided to support CPN-UML's candidate, former speaker Subash Nembang, in the election for the CA speaker.

NC formally requested its coalition partner CPN-UML to join the Government as per the seven-point agreement reached between the two parties on February 9.

CPN-UML's Subash Chandra Nembang was elected unopposed as Chairperson of the CA. The CA Chair is also the Speaker of the Legislature-Parliament.

CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokhare said that CPN-UML remained firm on not joining the Government unless it is given the Home Ministry, even as its leader Subas Chandra Nembang was elected unopposed as the Chairperson of the CA with support from NC.

Subas Nembang who assumed his office as the CA chairman for the second time said he would expedite the task of constitution writing by owning the works accomplished by the previous CA.

Top leaders of CPN-UML said that it was their party's fault to agree for an 'unwritten' deal with NC about allocating the Home Ministry to the CPN-UML.

CoAS Gaurav SJB Rana said that separatist movement, religious and ethnic tension, general strikes and terrorist activities in the region has caused threats to national security.

CPN-UML after a standing committee meeting reiterated its previous stance of not joining the NC-led Government until it gets the Home Ministry portfolio.

NC parliamentary board meeting held at the party headquarters in Kathmandu to finalize the names and criteria for appointing Government ministers ended inconclusively.

CPN-UML Secretary Bishnu Poudel said that the seven-point directive issued by President Ram Baran Yadav to Prime Minister Koirala was an unconstitutional move, arguing that a ceremonial head of the state does not have the authority to issue such directive to the head of an elected Government.

Following the assurance of PM Sushil Koirala about allocating Home Ministry to CPN-UML, the CPN-UML central committee decided to join the Government.

The CPN-UML central committee decided that Vice Chairman Gautam would lead the CPN-UML team in the Sushil Koirala-led Government. Gautam would be assuming the Home portfolio third time.

Sher Bahadur Deuba-led faction within the CPN-UML mulled not to send any ministers in the cabinet if they are not given 40 percent of the ministerial portfolios NC would keep. Deuba faction also demanded proportionate sharing of key ministries.

The Prime Minister's plan to appoint ministers couldn´t succeed as his party, the NC and the CPN-UML failed to finalize the list of minister-nominees even as they allocated the ministries among them.

A meeting of CPN-UML's Standing Committee at Grandy Hospital in Kathmandu authorized its Vice Chairperson Bamdev Gautam to furnish the name list of CPN-UML nominees to be inducted in the Koirala cabinet.

UCPN-M demanded that the Legislature Parliament in Kathmandu begin the process of election of President and Vice President. UCPN-M leader Shakti Bahadur Basnet criticised NC and CPN-UML for bartering the Presidential election issue in exchange for a certain ministerial portfolio.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he is encouraged by the pledge Prime Minister Sushil Koirala made to the CA to complete the constitution drafting process on the basis of cross-party consensus within a year.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala expanded his Cabinet by swearing in 21 new ministers including two deputy Prime Ministers - Bam Dev Gautam of the CPN-UML and the NC's Prakash Man Singh.

Onsari Gharti, the sole lawmaker of UCPN-M to be directly elected to the CA in the November 19, 2013 elections, has been elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the CA with an overwhelming majority of 484 of the total 489 votes cast in the CA meeting with the support of major political parties.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala assured that he would accommodate fringe parties in his cabinet very soon. Koirala also assured that he would not run his cabinet unilaterally.

UCPN-M at a meeting of the former office bearers of the party held at its party headquarters in Kathmandu decided to play a "proactive role" to ensure the much-awaited new constitution from the second CA itself within the next one year.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala assured that the country will have its new constitution within a year. He further said that he will move ahead by forging consensus with all the political parties in order to fulfill the task of timely constitution.

The CA is all set to downsize CA committees from 14 to five, aiming at promulgating the new constitution within a year by owning up the tasks accomplished by the previous CA that was dissolved in May 2012.

Leaders of the CPN-Maoist called for the formation of a unity Government. Senior CPN-Maoist leader Hari Bhakta Kandel said, "The unity Government will incorporate all parties outside the CA to devise a new course for drafting a constitution."

NC and CPN-UML disputed over whether the President or the CA Chair should authenticate the bill of the new constitution after the provisions are endorsed by two-thirds majority of the CA.

Chairman of RPP, Surya Bahadur Thapa expressed confidence that the people of the country will get the much-awaited new constitution within a year.

Failing to resolve the dispute over whether the President or CA Chairman should authenticate the new statute, the all-party panel formed to draft CA regulations sought 10 more days to accomplish the task.

NC senior leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that new constitution would be promulgated within a year on the basis of power balance among all the political parties.

The term of the CA Regulations Drafting Committee has been extended for the second time after a 10-day extension last week.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam said that the local elections would be held within six months. He also said that the lack of local representatives in the Districts has raised the issues related to corruption and irregularities in the budget allocated by the Government.

NC decided to hold talks with the senior leaders of its coalition partner CPN-UML to iron out differences on the President or the CA Chairman should authenticate the new constitution.

Ram Bahadur Thapa, the General Secretary of the CPN-Maoist party expressed sadness that people did not punish UCPN-M enough in the second CA election, although the latter suffered a crushing defeat in the same.

The Central Committee meeting of the CPN-UML stressed that the Chairman of the CA should be given the right to authenticate the new constitution and that there was no need to amend the existing provision as mentioned in the CA Rules.

Agni Sapkota, leader of the UCPN-M, responding to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam´s remarks to the House on the Government´s moves to punish those involved urged the Government to form a TRC at the earliest to investigate all cases from the insurgency period.

Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh said that the Government has initiated necessary work to hold elections for local bodies at the earliest. He further said that the Government is intent upon holding the election for the local bodies even if that requires amending the related acts, laws and provisions in the interim constitution.

NC leader and Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal said that NC is preparing to call a meeting with the CPN-UML and the UCPN-M to discuss and settle the issue of who should authenticate the new constitution.

Coordinator of the cross-party committee for drafting the CA regulations, Laxman Lal Karna, called a meeting of the committee for March 9 to settle unresolved disputes over some of the provisions to be included in the regulations.

PM Sushil Koirala intensified political parleys by holding separate meetings with President Ram Baran Yadav and chief of his main coalition partner CPN-UML.

After contending with the problem who - the President or the CA Chairman - should authenticate the new constitution for days, the NC and the CPN-UML are planning to skip the term 'authentication' altogether from the CA Rules and would settle for the term 'certification'.

Spokesperson of CPN-Maoist Pampha Bhusal alleged that the Government's plans to hold election for the local bodies was just a ploy not to deliver the much-awaited new constitution, adding that the polls cannot be carried out in the next three months time under any circumstances.

Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal, who is also the Government´s spokesperson, told "We are currently working to finalize the CMP. We are in favor of unveiling the CMP at the earliest."

The NC and the CPN-UML settled the issue of 'authenticating the new constitution' by letting the President declare the commencement of the constitution after the CA Chairman certifies it following its endorsement by the 601-member assembly.

The CPN-Maoist decided to stage peaceful protest from next month against the CA, the Government and major political parties. "We would unveil our new programs of protest within a few days but we will not take to the streets," said the party secretary Dev Gurung.

PM Shusil Koirala said that the local elections are the top priority of his Government as the state has been suffering in various sectors due to the absence of people´s representative at local bodies.

CPN-Maoist Vice-Chairman, CP Gajurel said that the chances of unification with the UCPN-M are slim remarking that the UCPN-M is the party without ideology and principles.

Three bigha and 13 kathhas of land belonging to various religious trusts at Agyauli area of Nawalparasi District was allegedly captured by the CPN-Maoist and the party arbitrarily distributed the land to 'landless' people.

UCPN-M Chairperson, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-Maoist Chairperson, Mohan Baidya signed a two-point deal opposing the Government preparation for local elections and arrest of individuals alleged of rights violation during armed conflict.

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel accused UCPN-M of trying to "run away" from the elections for the local bodies. He clarified that holding the election for the local bodies at this juncture would in fact help ensure federalism in the country.

CEC Neel Kantha Uprety said that the election for the local bodies can be conducted within June 2014 if the election act can be amended and a date for the local bodies' election fixed within the next one week.

CEC Neel Kantha Uprety said the EC should be given autonomy to fix dates for periodic elections and hold them independently to make democracy fully functional.

Senior CPN-UML leader called on the Government to fix the date of local bodies' election at the earliest without getting afraid of UCPN-M threats and warnings against doing so.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal held discussions on the issue of local bodies' election. "We discussed holding local elections within mid-June this year at any cost," said Nepal after the meeting.

The meeting of the UCPN-M leaders in Kathmandu decided to draw the Government's attention on why the political agreement to investigate into the November 19 CA poll rigging was not implemented.

CPN-Maoist Vice Chairperson CP Gajurel said there is no possibility of party unity with UCPN-M, though a working relation can be maintained.

NC Vice-President Ramchandra Paudel said the Government could proceed with both constitution drafting and local polls simultaneously. He added "If polls are not held now, they won't happen for another four years. So the Government is planning to hold elections at the earliest."

CPN-Maoist Chairperson Mohan Baidhya said that there was high possibility of forging party unity with UCPN-M if there was consensus on pertinent political issues.

Nepal was scrutinized during the 110th session of the UNHRC in Geneva on its "dismal" rights records, including the inordinate delay in forming transitional justice mechanisms to redress the plights of those directly affected by the decade-long Maoist conflict.

The coalition Government of NC and the CPN-UML launched its 13-page CMP vowing to frame a new constitution within a year, complete the remaining tasks of peace process as soon as possible and immediately fill vacancies in the constitutional bodies.

The CA meeting conducted general discussions on the draft reports of the CA Regulations and CA Legislature-Parliament Operation Procedure Regulations. They also demanded that those issues, which did not enter the previous CA, should be brought in the present CA for discussions.

NC Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel said that the local elections should be held before the promulgation of a new constitution. According to Poudel, the elections of the local body would not create any obstacle in the constitution drafting.

CPN-Maoist General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa ruled out the possibility of his party unifying with the UCPN-M. Thapa also accused UCPN-M of being mired in opportunism and conspiracy.

Expressing its dismay at the delay in the announcement of local election date, the CPN-UML asked the Government to declare the date without further delay.

The CA passed the CA Regulations and the Legislature-Parliament Operation Procedures Regulations paving way for the beginning of the constitution writing process.

NC lawmakers and CWC members criticized Prime Minister Sushil Koirala over the recent decision of the Government to hike the prices of petroleum products and unveil CMP without holding consultations in the party.

A PP meeting of the CPN-UML decided to exert pressure on the Government and the EC to hold elections for local bodies by mid-June. The meeting also passed the proposed draft of the PP's statute with some suggestions.

CPN-Maoist politburo member Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma asked people not to expect a 'people's constitution' from the sitting CA given the wide differences among lawmakers in the constitution drafting body regarding the major agendas of the constitution.

The Government set up CGCC comprising top leaders of NC and CPN-UML to help the Government discharge its duties smoothly and provide guidelines. The committee will also facilitate discussions between NC and CPN-UML organizing mutual meetings frequently.

Senior leader of CPN-Maoist Dev Gurung clarified that his party would not have any kind of objection even if new constitution is enacted through the current CA.

The Government assured the Legislature-Parliament that it would bring bills on TRC and Commission on the Disappearances to address the cases of human rights violations that occurred at the time of Maoist insurgency.

A majority of the lawmakers speaking in the meeting of the Legislature-Parliament were critical of the Government's working style, as they expressed doubts if it could make significant progress except in preparing the draft constitution in the next six months and issuing it in a year's time.

Senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal accused Prime Minister Sushil Koirala of being afraid of conducting the election for the local bodies.

The poll boycott group of 33 smaller parties chaired by CPN-Maoist made public a 33-point policy and program document reiterating that only a round-table conference can provide an outlet to the country.

The CA formally taken ownership of the achievements of the first CA. The reports prepared by the thematic committees of the first CA were presented by CA Secretariat General Secretary Monahar Bhattarrai to Chairman Subas Nembang to be announced in the CA.

National Victims Alliance expressed strong reservation against the involvement of Dinesh Tripathi and Chunda Bahadur Shrestha in the 11-member taskforce formed by the Government to prepare the draft of the bills related to TRC and Disappearance Commission.

An experts committee formed to finalize bills related to TRC and Commission on Disappearances began consultation with stakeholders and will seek advice from political parties' representatives and victims soon.

NC spokesperson Dilendra Prasad Badu said that the atmosphere has now turned favorable so as to promulgate a new full-fledged constitution in the next one year.

EC said it will not be possible to hold local elections by June 2014 owing to continued dithering by the Government and political parties over announcing the dates. CEC Neel Kantha Uprety said "It will now be wrong to assume that the polls will be possible in June. We see no such possibility as time has already run out."

Mohan Baidya, Chairman of CPN-Maoist challenged the authorities to arrest and jail him instead of arresting the cadres of his party over conflict-era cases. Baidya said, "Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai and I led the people´s war. If the Government is bold enough then it should arrest me first."

UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai challenged the authorities to initiate legal action against him on cases related to conflict era murder and rights abuse. He further said that as he was the head of the then Maoist people's Government he would take full responsibility "for all the acts committed during that period".

CA Chairperson Subhash Nemwang expressed commitment that the second CA under his command will draft and promulgate new constitution within February 2015.

Senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Vice-president Ramchandra Paudel directed their party cadres to work sincerely to hold local elections on time and called on party supporters to empower the party so that it could emerge as the largest party, as it did in the last CA election.

SC said that the conflict-era cases can be tried under existing laws at a time when both the Maoist parties - UCPN-M and CPN-Maoist - have been continuously exerting pressure on the political leadership not to take up insurgency-era cases until the TRC and the Commission on Disappearance are formed.

NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said "Local elections are not possible without forging consensus among major political parties first. It is difficult to develop a village solely depending on VDC secretary. That same applies in the case of DDC, as the LDO alone cannot develop a District."

The CA approved the Constitution making timetable, called the CA calendar, to enact the new constitution by January 22, 2015. According to the amended calendar, the certified copy of the approved constitution would be signed by each CA member while CA Chairperson would certify the constitution and President puts signature on the copy.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal while addressing the inaugural session of the 19th national conference of the party's student wing ANNISU-R in Kathmandu warned of serious consequences if the SC fails to respect the past agreements, including the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

Chairman of the CA, Subash Chandra Nembang said that political parties need to elect Chairmen in various committees under the CA immediately so that constitution writing would be expedited.

UCPN-M leaders met Prime Minister Sushil Koirala in Kathmandu and expressed concern about the 'unilateral decision' to reform the Bills on TRC and Commission on Disappearances and called for downsizing negative list for granting amnesty.

CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang administered the oath of office and secrecy to lawmakers included in the Constitution Draft Committee.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said that there have been unnecessary delays in Government works and activities as coalition politics compels it to move ahead by forging consensus and understanding of all the political parties.

Leaders of ruling coalition partners NC and CPN-UML stressed on the need to form the TRC, which doesn't grant general amnesty to perpetrators of human rights violation or initiate any kind of reconciliation attempts with them without the consent of victims (or the family of the victims).

UCPN-M leaders said that as a result of its humiliating defeat in the CA polls, active members of UCPN-M are likely to decrease significantly during its upcoming general convention. The members are likely to decrease as several of its members have joined CPN-Maoist while the others have not renewed memberships.

The Government tabled a reviewed bill on TRC and CED with special focus on reconciliation. The bill has proposed a commission, which will have a status of a judicial commission with rights akin to a court for tenure of two years. The bill gives authority to the commission for reconciliation if either a perpetrator or a victim files for reconciliation.

Legal experts said that the Bill the Government tabled to form the TRC and CED is against national and international laws. They also warned that a writ could be filed at the Supreme Court against the Bill and the Court may stay the process to form the commissions.

NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M at a meeting held at the Prime Minister´s official residence in Kathmandu reached an understanding to stand united in Parliament to endorse the bill on TRC and CED.

The Government charge-sheet 13 Maoists cadres at Chitwan District Court for killing Krishna Prasad Adhikari, a resident of Fujel village of Gorkha District on June 6, 2004.

CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said that new constitution would be media-friendly and also assured that representation of media sector would be ensured in 26 seats to be appointed from the Council of Ministers.

Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal while talking to journalists at his residence in Kathamandu warned that the nation could plunge into serious confrontation if the Government failed to commit to the TRC.

A day after a District attorney's office filed case against 13 cadres for a 2004 murder, the UCPN-M boycotted a scheduled three-party meeting in protest and warned of further protests. The Maoist leaders also threatened not to show up in any meeting with political parties unless the cases were withdrawn.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, in a statement issued at OHCHR in Geneva expressed grave concern at the bill presented to the Nepalese Parliament which could lead to amnesties for serious human rights violations.

The ruling NC in a joint meeting of the party's central committee and parliamentary party said that the soon-to-be formed TRC and CED won't be able to guarantee blanket amnesty to the victimizer without the consent of the victim.

All party meeting summoned by the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala ended inconclusively as the main opposition UCPN-M boycotted the meeting supposed to discuss nominations of the remaining lawmakers, heads of the CA committees, parliamentary committees and other concurrent issues.

UCPN-M during a meeting of the party's office bearers held in Kathmandu announced nationwide protest programs against the Government move to lodge cases against its cadres implicated in the murder of Krishna Prasad Adhikari.

CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya inaugurating the party´s District Convention in Pyuthan,District said that the arrest of Maoist cadres for their involvement in conflict-era cases is a step toward reversing the achievements of the people´s movement.

UCPN-M obstructed Parliament House proceedings, protesting the Government move of filing charge-sheet against 13 Maoists cadres accused of murdering Krishna Prasad Adhikari.

Following the obstruction by the UCPN-M, the Government proposed to end the Bill on TRC and CED, which was to be tabled at the Parliament with a provision that commissions would also look into those war-related cases which are under the consideration of court of law.

AI, HRW, and ICJ expressed grave concern over the 'provision of amnesty' contained in the recently-tabled TRC bill in the Nepal´s Parliament.

AI, HRW, and ICJ expressed grave concern over the 'provision of amnesty' contained in the recently-tabled TRC bill in the Nepal´s Parliament.

After the release two Maoist cadres, the UCPN-M agreed to stay in the all party meeting which was protesting war-era cases should not have been dealt before the formation of a TRC.

After two consecutive days of disruption by the UCPN-M, Minister for Law Narhari Acharya tabled the bills on TRC and CED in the Legislature Parliament.

UCPN-M leader Narayankaji Shrestha inaugurating his party's sixth District conference in Kaski District said bringing war-era cases under the purview of the court instead of finding a solution through TRC is akin to plotting against the republican constitution.

As the Parliament began deliberations on the bills on TRC and CED, lawmakers from various political parties aired their differing views.

The victims of armed insurgency (1996-2006) at a program in Kathmandu raised their common concern that the bill on TRC has to be amended before it is endorsed by the Parliament.

NC vice president Ram Chandra Paudel in Jhapa District said that the peace process would not reach to a conclusion by raising conflict era cases.

CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya claimed that the new CA will also fail to produce a new constitution ensuring people´s rights and that his party will announce a pro-people statute from the street.

NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M held a meeting at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala's official residence in Kathmandu to discuss about bill on forming commission on TRC and CED.

The TRC bill tabled in Parliament on April 18 has seen 26 amendment proposals registered with the Parliament Secretariat, including the one that calls for inserting the term 'enforced disappearance' instead of 'missing person' to the name of the bill itself.

RPP-N Chairperson Kamal Thapa speaking at a party programme in Hetauda town of Makwanpur District warned that the nation could face yet another grave crisis if the major political parties failed to move ahead by taking everyone in confidence.

Political parties in the CA put forward their candidates for the post of chairpersons in the five constitutional committees in the CA.

CA Chairperson Subaschandra Nembang urged the Government and leaders of major parties to do the needful to give the CA full shape.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam said the bills on TRC and the CED would not grant blanket amnesty to the human rights violators and those guilty of heinous crime.

Former Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma said that there is no guarantee of a new constitution in a year as five months have already passed since the election of the CA.

The Parliament passed the bills on the formation of the TRC and the CED with amendment. The term 'disappearance' has been replaced with the term 'enforced disappearance' following the amendment.

Chairpersons of the three thematic and two procedural committees of the CA were elected unopposed. UCPN-M CA member Baburam Bhattarai was elected the Chairman of the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee. NC's Krishna Prasad Sitaula and CPN-UML's Bishnu Poudel were elected Chairmen of Constitution Drafting Committee and Constitution Record Study and Determination Committee, respectively. MPRF-N's Laxmi Kumari Chaudhari and CPN-Samyukta's Pramila Rana were elected Chairpersons of Capacity Building Committee and Citizens Relations and Constitution Suggestion Committee, respectively.

The Kathmandu convention of CPN-Maoist chaired by Mohan Baidya was disrupted and abandoned midway, as the party members themselves resorted to verbal duets, fisting and chair-attack on each other.

Issuing a joint press statement, 12 organizations of the conflict victims demanded that the Bill on TRC and CED be amended and made "victims-friendly".

The CA's Political Dialogue Committee has decided to review the contentious issues of new constitution by the end of May. A nine-member sub-committee headed by Nepali Congress's Purna Bahadur Khadka is formed to study the agreements signed by the government with the agitating parties or groups after signing of the peace agreement in 2006 and prepare its report.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal divulged a plan, to form a new party through conglomeration of various communist parties at its upcoming national conference.

With the deepening intra-party rift among factions led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Baburam Bhattarai in the UCPN-M, cadres loyal to the two factions are holding separate District conclaves after differences worsened in Rautahat.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal floated a proposal to form a broad alliance comprising representations from the like-minded parties to ensure a democratic and timely constitution in the country.

The national convention of the UCPN-M called to strengthen the party organisations witnessed tensions and divisions among rival factions of the party.

The UCPN-M is planning to select 75 CC members through a direct election process in its national convention that begins May 8 to uphold the democratic practice inside the party. The party will downsize the current 300-member jumbo CC to 99-member to make it functional and effective. The remaining 24 CC members will be nominated by party's office bearers after the convention concludes.

Six subcommittees formed under the Committee to Study and Determine Constitutional Records have listed the agreed and disputed issues of constitution writing. As per the constitution drafting calendar, a report on the agreed and disputed issues of constitution will be presented to the CA full house by May 29.

The national convention of the UCPN-M to be held in Biratnagar in Morang District has been put off until May 5.

The election committee of the party led by Dharmasila Chapagain has published the voter lists. According to Chapagain, there are altogether 1007 voters who would choose party's 99-member CC. The voting for CC is scheduled for May 5.

The closed session of the UCPN-M's national convention in Biratnagar in Morang District could not resume even on May 5and was postponed to May 6, as the party's prominent leaders continued differing on major political issues.

The UCPN-M's national convention that was aimed at strengthening the party concluded in Biratnagar in Morang District. The UCPN-M re-elected party chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal to the same post again.

The Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist politburo meeting decided to boycott the by-election of the Constituent Assembly scheduled for June 22. Party Chairman Mohan Baidhya said the party had decided to hold its national conference from June 24 to 29 in Kathmandu. The party is also organising programmes raising issues of national interest and people's livelihood.

An IED was recovered from the premises of Shree Janakalyan Higher Secondary School in Purandhara VDC in the western part of Dang District.

Minister for Forests and Soil-Conservation Mahesh Acharya said the CA would get a full shape within a week. Acharya said the nomination process of the remaining 26 CA members has reached the final phase and the nomination would be announced soon.

PM Sushil Koirala said that the Transitional Justice Bill passed on April 25, 2014 by Parliament for the establishment of a TRC and CED is aimed at greater national unity and reconciliation as envisaged in the peace accord and has not deviated from international standards.

Deputy PM and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam has claimed that the government has contained the criminal activities of armed outfit's operating in Tarai and Eastern Hills.

The Constitution Drafting Committee held discussion with two noted constitutional experts Bhimarjun Acharya and Bipin Adhikari on issues of the new constitution.

PM Sushil Koirala said the country will surely get a much-awaited constitution on time, provided all concerned work in tandem.

PM Sushil Koirala urged CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya and Secretary Dev Gurung to maintain what he called a 'hotline' with him so that they can discuss serious issues as and when they emerge.

CA Chairman Subas Nembang has planned to hold deliberations on disputed issues of constitution making in the CA´s full House starting May 13. The all-party Business Advisory Committee to be held on May 12 will prepare an action plan in connection with holding deliberations over the reports in the CA.

President Ram Baran Yadav approved the transitional justice bill, paving the way for the formation of the CED, and the TRC, to become an Act.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said, that growing rapprochement with breakaway faction CPN-Maoist would not affect his commitment to peace and constitution.

The Supreme Court of Nepal directed the government authorities to appoint 26 CA members within 15 days. As per the provision, the 601-member CA would comprise 240 elected lawmakers, 335 nominated under the PR category and 26 nominated by the Cabinet.

The Government realises its mistake a day after the Bill on TRC and CED was turned into an Act on May 11. The Act states that the government shall appoint a former chief justice as the chairman of a to-be-formed committee which will recommend the names for TRC and CED. This provision contradicts Article 106 (2) of the Interim Constitution, which prohibits appointment of former chief justice or Supreme Court justices in any government position.

The Baburam Bhattarai faction of the UCPN-M said it is ready to join the party's CC if Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal agrees to fulfill a number of conditions including coming clean on the issues of peace and constitution. A meeting of CC has been called for May 15 to discuss ways to bring the Bhattarai faction on board.

A former CPN-Maoist cadre Pushkar Gautam, who was convicted of killing Ujjan Kumar Shrestha of Tarkerabari on June 24, 1998, by the Okhaldhunga District Court and had been on the run for two years, was arrested from Bagbazaar in Okhaldhunga District and sent to Sundhara Central Jail to serve life sentence.

The constitution drafting process has entered a new phase as the CA formally began its core business. The CA is set to begin theoretical discussions on the progress made by 11 thematic committees of the previous CA and on various contentious issues on May 15.

CA Chairman Subas Nembang ruled political parties and lawmakers to avoid foreign visits until the promulgation of new constitution. Nembang urged the CA members to be serious about implementing the CA's commitment to prepare the first draft of the new statute and go to the public by mid October 2014, and promulgate the new constitution by January 22, 2015 as per the CA's work schedule.

The Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction started administrative preparations for establishing the formation of TRC and CED. The Ministry has formed a taskforce under it to submit a report on the necessary resources, administrative expenses and infrastructures for both the commissions.

The CA has begun deliberations on the contents of the new constitution. The key provisions discussed by several lawmakers include the provisions related to the right to self-determination of provinces, mandatory conscription for citizens of 18 years and above, formation of finance commission and commission on distribution of natural resources and system of taxation.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at a programme organised by ANNISU-R in Kathmandu said that he is ready to leave the leadership for the unification of the party.

The Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the CA identified altogether 145 points related to the constitution writing from among the different agreements, understandings and decisions made so far in connection with the peace process.

The Police recovered 323 pieces of sockets used in making bombs from Jaya Bahadur Thapa at Suwaunali-3 in Jajarkot District.

Prime Minster Sushil Koirala and Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting at the former's official residence in Baluwatar, to discuss on the latest political developments, the constitution drafting process, finalising remaining works of the peace process, recommendation of 26 lawmakers to be appointed by the government and the controversy over the Judicial Council's recommendation of possible names for Supreme Court's judges.

UCPN-M senior leader Baburam Bhattarai agreed to join party's Central Committee. Baburam Bhattarai and Krishna Bahadur Mahara will join the party's office bearer which has Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Posta Bahadur Bogati currently.

The meeting of the CA, discussed the agreed upon contents of the constitution prepared by then committee on natural resources, economic rights and revenue sharing, and the report on the agreed upon issues prepared by committee on the protection of national welfare.

The CPN-Maoist and its allies submitted a memorandum to PM Sushil Koirala, demanding to hold an all-side roundtable conference and initiate constitution writing.

The UCPN-M decided to expand the size of its CC to 149-member in order to accommodate more leaders from the Baburam Bhattarai faction. The current CC consisted of 84-members and it does not have Bhattarai supporters as members.

CA members said that there is no need to include the provision of conscription for adults above 18 years in a new constitution, arguing that doing so would lead the country towards militarisation and conflict.

Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony of local Jhalari VDC building in Kanchanpur District, Minister for Irrigation Narayan Prakash Saud said the government is proceeding ahead with its works keeping the constitution writing process in top priority.

The CA Constitution Records Study and Determination Committee received a report from the sub-committee formed to study the reports of the then constitutional committee and the concept paper and preliminary draft report.

Civil society as well as political leaders warned that promulgation of new constitution solely on the basis of numerical strength in the CA could pose threats to the legitimacy of the statute.

The CA members said the judiciary is encroaching on the jurisdiction of Parliament, and that it should be corrected while drafting a new constitution. CA members from all the parties, UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and Madhes-based parties underlined the need to make judiciary more accountable and transparent but they were divided over whether to have a mechanism to ensure it.

PM Sushil Koirala agreed in principle to hold an all-party meet or round-table conference to resolve disputes and bring disgruntled forces on board the constitution-drafting process. PM Koirala reached an agreement with CPN-Maoist Chief Mohan Baidya to hold an all-party meet or round table conference possibly after he returns from India visit, during a meeting held in Baluwatar.

Failing to pick party office bearers and standing committee and politburo members through consensus, the UCPN-M has decided to go to vote to pick candidates for the vital positions. Party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda informed the party CC meeting that party leaders decided to hold election after efforts to settle the leadership row at the CC meeting failed to make any headway.

The 151-strong nominated CC of the UCPN-M elected 50 politburo members. According to election committee member Ram Narayan Bidari, among the 116 total votes, 16 were declared invalid and only 100 votes were counted. He said all 151 central committee members were voters as well as candidates for the 50-member politburo.

The Nepal government has projected the recently enacted TRC and CED as one of its major achievements during its first 100 days in office. Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal, government spokesperson, made public a 55-page document that incorporates major achievements of the government since it came to the helm of the power on February 10.

The UCPN-M elected a 16-member Standing Committee by holding election. According to the election committee, eleven are from the Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda faction, three from Bhattarai faction and two from the Narayan Kaji Shrestha faction.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the nation was suffering due to the division among the revolutionary communists in the country. He also said there was a need of unity among the revolutionary communists based on a new ideology.

Though elected to the powerful party committee, leaders loyal to Bhattarai faction said they are not ready to assume their new positions and will remain as CC members.

The UCPN-M elected its Office Bearers headed by party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, in a CC meeting held at the party's headquarters in Paris Danda (Okhaldhunga District). The election was held for two vice-chairman, one general secretary, three secretaries and a treasurer.

President Ram Baran Yadav has urged the political parties to draft the new constitution within the time they had earlier promised. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala has also appealed to all the political parties and the people to extend their support in creating a favourable environment to draft a constitution on time.

The UCPN-M faction led by Baburam Bhattarai has decided to refuse posts in politburo, standing committee and the office bearers´ body of the party at the party´s CC meeting. Following Bhattarai´s announcement, the party has formed a committee led by party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, to prepare working procedure for intra-party struggle.

The CA began deliberations on the modality of state restructuring and the distribution of state powers--two of the most contentious issues--to be defined in the new constitution.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda claimed that it would be very unfortunate for the country if the NC and other ruling parties insisted on deciding the contentious issues in the new constitution through voting in the CA.

The Constitution Drafting Committee under the CA approved the proposal for forming five sub-committees to prepare the proposed draft of the New Constitution. The five sub-committees will help prepare the draft of the new constitution on the topics of the preamble, definition, fundamental rights, and directive principles, Judiciary, Legislature Parliament, and the Executive.

Police recovered nine kilograms of explosive materials from the forest in Nipane in Daha VDC-1 of Jajarkot District.

The CA began deliberations on state restructuring, as it discussed the process and nature of federalizing the country as per the Interim Constitution of Nepal.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the proposed work division, many leaders of UCPN-M urged the leadership to give them proper task to accomplish, and stalled the CC meeting and postponed the meeting till June 2.

PM Sushil Koirala held discussion with UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda over resuming the Legislature-Parliament session, obstructed by the opposition parties demanding implementation of past pacts and a brake in the "unchecked transfer of funds and expenditures from the Treasury".

A writ petition has been filed by 234 victims from both the rebel and state sides at the Supreme Court, demanding the review of the TRC Act 2071, reasoning that some sections of the Act are against the Interim Constitution, the international human rights and humanitarian laws, the principles of transitional justice, and the Supreme Court orders. Section 13, 22, 24, 25, 26 and 29 of the Act are incompatible with Articles 12, 13, 24 (9), 25 and 26 of the Interim Constitution, the petitioners said, stressing the need to address the conflict victims through the constitution.

A suspected pressure cooker bomb was found at gate no. 3 of CA building, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu. According to Police, the suspected pressure cooker bomb was planted warped with polythene. Leaflets printed in the name of Dalit Mukti Force have been recovered near by the incident site. However, the bomb disposal team found out that the pressure cooker was just a hoax and was planted there to spread fear, said New Baneshwor Police Circle DSP Ramesh Kumar Tamang.

The UCPN-M continued their obstruction of the Parliament, demanding investigation into what they call "election fraud," among other things. Negotiations between the ruling parties and the main opposition failed to end the obstruction. The UCPN-M has been demanding implementation of the four-point agreement signed between victorious parties and the Maoists after the second CA elections in November 2013.

At the meeting of the CA in Kathmandu, majority of the CA members emphasized on the need of developing a federal system unique to Nepal and not based on ethnic and regional ground. Expressing their views on the report of the CA Committee on Constitutional Archives Study and Determination on the agreed and disputed issues in then CA Committee on Restructuring of the State and Distribution of State Power, they said that federalism should not be a basis for disintegration but promoting unity and consensus in the country.

Deliberation on whether conscription should be included in the new constitution has resumed at the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee. The issue that was earlier dealt and almost resolved unanimously by the National Interest Protection Committee of the first CA has become a matter of debate in the new CA.

The CPN-Maoist, which boycotted the second CA election, has formally proposed to hold a national political assembly in order to bring parties that are in and outside the CA for discussing crucial agenda of the constitution being drafted. In a meeting with the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M leaders, CPN-Maoist Vice-chairman CP Gajurel presented an eight-point outline aimed at bringing all the political forces together. The objective of the meet, according to the party, would be to create an enabling environment for incorporating past pacts in a pro-people constitution and to find consensus on vital issues while drafting the statute.

Lawmakers of different political parties stressed on the need to adopt a federal system based on the country's specialty. The lawmakers stressed that country's unique feature and necessity should be considered while federating the country.

The CA forwarded contentious issues concerning federalism to its Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee for further deliberations, after broad and intensive discussions in the CA for nearly two weeks in Kathmandu. It is now a mandate of the Committee led by UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai to settle the issues by holding talks with political parties in and outside the Assembly.

Political parties reached an agreement to form a political committee to oversee constitution-writing process and conclude remaining tasks of the peace process, including transitional justice. UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said he was hopeful of constitution-writing gaining momentum after the agreement. He said the need of the hour was to conclude the incomplete tasks of the peace process. Dahal added that the parties were still discussing on the nature and composition of the HLPC.

The SC is set to begin a hearing on the petition challenging the TRC Act from July 10. A total of 234 victims from both rebel and state sides had lodged the petition earlier in May, claiming the provisions in the newly-enacted TRC Act regarding amnesty and reconciliation are inconsistent with the SC order.

A full meeting of the Constitutional Dialogue and Consensus Committee reached an understanding on the controversial issue of giving compulsory military training to Nepali citizens above 18 years of age. After discussion on the last CA's thematic committee report on National Interests Protection Committee, the dialogue committee unanimously agreed that it would be the duty of the citizens to "provide compulsory service as and when required by the nation".

The CA started discussing on forms of governance, an issue the parties failed to agree on in the previous CA. In the discussions the major parties, NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M, put forth views according to their party lines, leaving little room for compromise.

The government began the process of forming commissions for the TRC and CED Act. The commissions will settle cases of human rights violation meted out during the decade long Maoist insurgency. The Cabinet formed a committee headed by former chief justice Ombhakta Shrestha to recommend names for the two commissions.

The UCPN-M has been approaching the breakaway CPN-Maoist for party unification. However, the later has dubbed the move as mere propaganda. "Though they are talking about party unification, it just looks like propaganda, as they have not done any homework with regards to our six-point condition," said CPN-Maoist secretary Dev Gurung.

The UNSG stressed on the need for a credible TRC in line with the international standards. During a meeting with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala in New York on June 20, UNSG Ban Ki Moon raised the issue of the to-be-formed TRC in Nepal.

CA started theoretical debates on the structure of the legislative body in the federation, Pradesh and local bodies. Most CA members stressed that the federal Parliament should be bicameral, the Pradesh Assembly should be unicameral and local bodies should have their councils to govern it.

A cross-party taskforce formed by the UCPN-M, CPN-Maoist, CPN (M), RCP and CPN (Unified) finalised code of conduct and procedures of the alliance, but failed to agree on the leadership of the alliance.

The Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the CA started discussion on contentious issues underlying the report regarding the state restructuring.

Five communist parties - UCPN-M, CPN-Maoist, CPN (M), RCP and CPN (Unified) - at a special function at Buddha Nagar in Kathmandu signed an agreement to form an alliance.

UCPN-M Standing Committee member Gopal Kirati said that the UCPN-M never stood for single-identity based federalism and the party supports five bases of identity and four bases of strength for carving out the states of the country which was proposed by a committee under the previous CA.

The first round of deliberations in the full House of CA in Kathmandu was completed. During one and a half months of deliberations the issue of federalism, judiciary, and forms of governance were the main focus of discussion in the period.

UNOHCHR urged the Government to amend the act related to the formation of TRC and the CED to make it fully consistent with Nepal´s obligations under international laws.

A subcommittee of the Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the CA is set to hold talks with armed outfits operational in Eastern Hills and Mid-Tarai. The Ananda Prasad Dhungana-led panel held talks with 45 parties outside the CA on July 7 and July 8.

The Government maintained that the perpetrators of serious crimes committed during the conflict period cannot be granted amnesty unless the victim is convinced by the apology from the former. The TRC Act points out criteria to be met by the perpetrators to be eligible for amnesty, it cannot be argued that the Act envisions blanket amnesty for serious crimes, Chief Secretary Leela Mani Poudel says in his written reply furnished to the SC.

The UCPN-M forged an alliance with five Madhes-based parties and Federal Socialist Party Nepal to push for identity-based federalism and progressive constitution. The purpose of the alliance is to press the big parties - NC and CPN-UML - to embrace the desire for change manifested in various political movements and incorporate its spirit while drafting a new constitution.

Seven opposition parties, the UCPN-M, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Sadbhawana Party, Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal and Federal Socialist Party-Nepal, formed a new front - Federal Republican Front - Nepal, pledging to struggle for identity-based federal constitution. The front's 16-point concept paper unveiled at a programme in Kathmandu states the objective of the front is to ensure self rule in pradeshes and shared rule at the centre in a federal set-up.

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat presented the national budget worth NPR 618 billion, setting an ambitious GDP growth target of 6 percent for the upcoming fiscal year 2014-15. The budget aims to collect Rs 422 billion from taxation and Rs 73 billion from foreign aid sources to implement its budget programs.

Speaking at a post-budget discussion organized jointly by the MoF and SEJON in Kathmandu, Mahat expressed commitment to implement all the programs announced in the budget for fiscal year 2014-15.

The Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of CA began discussions on issues of state restructuring. At a meeting held at CA secretariat in Kathmandu, NC Joint General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka introduced three new models of federal structure.

With formal deliberations in the CA and its PDCC failing to sort prickly issues of the constitution being drafted, PDCC Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai said 'track two' of the constitution drafting process has begun in which top leaders of major parties will sit together to find a solution on disputed issues, primarily on federalism and the form of governance. In the CA and PDCC meetings, parties reiterated their respective positions on key contents of the new constitution.

Police arrested two former CPN-Maoist combatants, identified as Roka Magar (25) and Ujir Bahadur Magar (38), when they tried to attack on-duty Police personnel during regular security check at Dharapani Police Post in Manang District. Police also recovered one AK-47 rifle, 32 rounds of bullet, one Chinese pistol, and a home-made pistol from their possession.

The OPMCM started a discourse at the bureaucratic level on functioning of the central and provincial Governmental bodies in the proposed federal set-up of the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh said that the Government is committed to promulgate a democratic constitution to shorten the ongoing political transition.

The CPDCC of the CA forged consensus on 11 issues out of 48 issues on managing the political transition. Committee chairman Baburam Bhattarai said agreement has been reached to finalise electoral system to be adopted through the State Restructuring Committee.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bam Dev Gautam said that maintaining peace and security are the first priority of the Government. Gautam said, "Foundation for economic prosperity and infrastructure development could be intensified only after maintaining good governance and it is the high priority of the Government."

A meeting of the WAC, an alliance of five-parties, including Pushpa Kama Dahal aka Prachanda-led UCPN-M, Mohan Baidya aka Kiran-led CPN-Maoist-Baidya, Matriya Yadav-led CPN-Matriya, Mani Thapa-led RCP and Pari Thapa-led CPN-U decided to hold talks with the Government on organising an all-party meet at CPN-Maoist headquarters in Kathmandu, to settle political issues.

The CPDCC of the CA settled 37 disputed points as it decided to own the agreements reached at the previous CA's Constitutional Committee. The issues settled at the CPDCC meeting include the dispute about the name of the lower House of Parliament and voting age.

Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang urged the parties to forge consensus on the heads of the 11 thematic committees of the Parliament within two days. The 11 thematic committees include Finance Committee, International Relations and Labour Committee, Committee on Industry, Commerce and Consumer Interest Relations, Social Justice and Human Rights Committee, Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, Development Committee, Women Children, Senior Citizens and Social Welfare Committee, State Affairs Committee, Environment Protection Committee, Public Account Committee and Good Governance and Monitoring Committee.

The Parliament endorsed a proposal seeking public opinion on 'controversial' Contempt of Court Bill before its endorsement. According to the officials, the Parliament Secretariat will ask the public and stakeholders to provide their suggestions on contentious provisions of the bill. The suggestions thus collected will be incorporated in the bill, which will be discussed in Parliament.

Key leaders from various Political parties at the CPDCC of the CA have agreed to register official views of their respective parties and allow the constitution drafting process to move ahead without any hindrance. CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai described the political understanding as a major progress with regard to laying ground for producing a new constitution within given time.

The feud within the UCPN-M reached its climax as the establishment faction of the UCPN-M decided to give a final chance former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and his loyalists Top Bahadur Rayamajhi and Devendra Poudel to accept their respective positions in the party's body.

The Baburam Bhattarai faction of UCPN-M has threatened to boycott the party's CC meeting on August 26, if the party establishment faction led by Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda continues to act against them with what they called as the "ill intention." Bhattarai faction leaders in a meeting at Bhattarai's residence at Sanepa, Lalitpur, further said, the withdrawal of action against CC leaders Ganga Narayan Shrestha and Ramrijan Yadav will be the pre-condition for them to participate in the CC meeting.

Clause-wise debate on Appropriation Bill 2014 was commenced in the Parliament after Minister of Law and Justice Narhari Acharya assured the House that the Government was committed to implement the agreements on relief packages for conflict victims. The UCPN-M had been demanding that the Government must commit to carry out relief programmes for conflict victims in the new budget.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that internal rift within the UCPN-M will not get in the way of the constitution-making process. Addressing a press conference organised by the Revolutionary Journalists Association in Bharatpur in Chitwan District, he said there was no possibility of a split in the party.

Leaders of the NC and UCPN-M held discussions to forge consensus in the contents and disputed issues of the new constitution. The leaders have also agreed to settle the contents and disputed issues of the constitution through unilateral and multilateral talks.

The UCPN-M is likely to fix a date for party's special general convention to settle the intra-party rift between top leaders over ideology and organisational structures. Top leaders have also agreed to dispatch a special team, comprising members from both the factions, to settle the disputes in the Districts where the Baburam Bhattarai faction has formed parallel party structures.

Five armed outfits active in Tarai region have pledged to give up their armed struggle to join the constitution making process and peaceful politics in a meeting held in Janakpur in Dhanusa District on August 10 - 11. The meetings were held at the initiation of the CPDCC in a bid to bring political forces and armed outfits outside of the CA to mainstream politics and accommodate them in the constitution-drafting process.

The CA's Constitution Drafting Committee has reached the final stage of preparing the partial preliminary draft of a new constitution by incorporating the issues on which parties have already agreed upon. The constitution drafting committee members said that they have prepared the draft for the constitution on the basis of the report submitted by the full House of the CA, and that they will finalise the task by August 13.

The UCPN-M decided to intensify talks with the disgruntled faction led by senior leader Baburam Bhattarai, so that intra-party dispute will not hinder the constitution drafting process. A meeting of party standing committee held at the residence of party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda in Lazimpat, Kathmandu, decided to hold further rounds of talks with the disgruntled faction aiming to settle the row by mid of September.

Chairman of the CPDCC of the CA, Baburam Bhattarai began discussions with top leaders of three major political parties in a bid to find a common ground on the major contentious issues of Constitution writing at a meeting held at CA secretariat in Singhadurbar in Kathmandu. Top leaders from NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M discussed ways to settle differences over state restructuring and system of governance acceptable to all political forces.

Addressing a press meet in Katari in Udayapur District, Mohan Baidya, Chairman of CPN-Maoist demanded dissolution of the CA saying it cannot deliver a new constitution. He also reiterated that the new constitution should be written by forging consensus between all the political parties.

A sub-committee formed under CPDCC of CA, finalized the number of members for House of Representatives, National Assembly and Provincial Assembly in Kathmandu. The panel headed by lawmaker Laxman Lal Karna was entrusted with finalizing all contentious issues in constitution writing, except the form of governance and federalism. The sub-committee is scheduled to start deliberations on the issue of fundamental rights from August 18.

Three major parties - NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M agreed to be flexible yet again on the contentious issues of the constitution drafting process by holding consultations in the respective parties. As per the understanding, the three parties will engage in internal discussions to prepare a flexible proposal before their next meeting scheduled for August 23, 2014.

UCPN-M Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at the parliamentary session in Kathmandu, termed the Government's way of working as being 'mentally retarded'.

A meeting of the CPDCC headed by UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai agreed on the title of the new constitution. The new constitution will be called Nepal's Constitution, according to committee member Laxman Lal Karna.

The Baburam Bhattarai faction of the UCPN-M has set up a parallel 'district committee' in Kathmandu going against the party's establishment faction led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda. As per the announcement, a 51-member 'district committee' has been formed under the leadership of Mahendra Shrestha, the serving vice chair of Kathmandu 'district committee'. In the newly announced 'committee', the serving Kathmandu 'district committee' chair Himal Sharma has been named as the vice chair.

A day after Prime Minister Sushil Koirala flatly rejected its demand for fresh endorsement of the President and Vice President by the CA, the Government's main coalition partner, CPN-UML, reiterated its demand with the Prime Minister himself. During a meeting with Prime Minister Koirala at the latter's official residence at Baluwatar in Kathmandu, CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli objected to Koirala's remark on August 20 that the fresh endorsement demand was now 'irrelevant'.

The UCPN-M leaders including Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda walked out of the three-party meeting held at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala's official residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu, alleging the ruling NC and CPN-UML of not being serious in implementing a four-point agreement signed earlier. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala convened the meeting to figure out differences with the key opposition party - the UCPN-M, and chart out ways for drafting a timely constitution. In particular, the meeting was supposed to focus on the nomination of 26 CA members.

Leaders and cadres, closed to Baburam Bhattarai of the UCPN-M have formed a parallel District Committee in Saptari District. The committee was formed to take the concept of new power, forwarded by Baburam Bhattarai, to village level. Leaders closed to Bhattarai have already formed parallel committees in different districts including Dang, Kathmandu, Kaski, Dhanusha, Chitwan and Gorkha.

Mohan Baidya, Chairman of CPN-Maoist said that his party would not accept a constitution that is not acceptable to everyone. He claimed that promulgation of a new constitution by the CA is not acceptable, therefore, he demanded for the dissolution of the CA.

Leaders from the ruling parties in a meeting in Kathmandu have reached an agreement not to form the proposed HLPC even though UCPN-M, Madhes-based parties and other opposition parties have been strongly demanding formation of such a body.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has given an ultimatum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to form HLPC or the Maoists would obstruct the Parliament proceedings from August 27. Dahal claims that formation of HLPC was part of the four-point agreement reached among the major parties on December 24, 2013.

The Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist has reiterated its demand for an all-party political conference to settle thorny issues of the new constitution. During a meeting with Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at his residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Mohan Baidya and other leaders of the party pressed the demand.

FRA, a joint alliance of the UCPN-M and Madhesh-based parties, has warned that they would obstruct the business of the Parliament if the government did not form the HLPC within 24 hours. In a meeting held between the main opposition party UCPN-M and Madhesi parties at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu, decided that they would obstruct the proceedings of the Parliament from August 27, if the government did not implement the four-point pact signed earlier.

NC central committee member Surendra Raj Pandey petitioned the Supreme Court in Kathmandu, demanding writ against the government move to nominate 26 lawmakers until the apex court gives a final verdict on another related case filed by the government itself. Pandey has argued that the government has been preparing to nominate 26 lawmakers in line with Article 63 (3) (C) of the Interim constitution despite the review petition filed by itself is subjudice at the apex court.

In a meeting held in Parisdanda, Kathmandu, the UCPN-M has decided to hold the party's special GC within a year to resolve party's internal rift. Party Standing Committee member Agni Prasad Sapkota said that party's CC meeting has been summoned for September 17, adding that the same meeting would take decision on special conclave.

Political parties represented in the CA, agreed to make a new constitution with flexible provision for amendments on federalism, secularism, press freedom and human rights. For the amendment of such provisions, the support of two-thirds lawmakers is required and there should be referendum for the final verdict.

Police arrested nine cadres of the CPN-Maoist, (seven cadres were arrested from Ratnanagar area and two from Narayangadh in Chitwan District) enforcing Chitwan banda on August 25.

Seven months after the first sitting of the CA, the government, nominated 17 of the 26 members to the House, according to Minendra Rijal, Cabinet spokesperson.

In a meeting held in Birgunj, Kathmandu, leaders of the UCPN-M and some Madhesi parties, which are aligned with the FRA have threatened to take to the street if identity-based federalism is not ensured in the new constitution. UCPN-M leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi warned that the FRA may announce a new constitution from the streets if the constitution written by the CA failed to ensure such a federalism.

Opposition parties including the UCPN-M have obstructed the parliament meeting demanding implementation of the four-point agreement. Bijay Kumar Gachhedar, chairperson of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) said, "We have obstructed the House to prevent it and press the government for the formation of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC)." Commenting on the HLPC, he said such a committee is essential to forge a consensus on the disputed issues of the constitution.

The CA, CPDCC Chairperson Baburam Bhattarai has said that the political parties are nearing a consensus regarding the adoption of an inclusive and socialism-oriented economy. Bhattarai claimed that it was agreed at the political level that socialism-oriented capitalistic economy would be the main base for the country's economic policy.

The CPDCC of the CA has finalized provisional arrangements for the transitional period that will follow the promulgation of the new constitution in a meeting at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. The committee has proposed that the existing CA, which also functions as parliament, will be given continuity even after the promulgation of the new statute and until such time as a new parliament is elected as per the new constitution.

The UCPN-M urged the major parties in the CA to address the CPN-Maoist demand for an all-party conference before the deadline for resolving conflicting issues of the new constitution ends. CPN-Maoist has been demanding an all-party conference to discuss the contents of the new constitution, besides managing all other issues including formation of a national government.

The meeting of CPDCC ended inconclusively at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, as the political parties could not come to a consensus on various contentious issues like forms of governance and state restructuring, among others. NC Vice-Chair Ram Chandra Paudel said that although there were discussions on various issues in the meeting, the parties could not reach a consensus, and the parties will try and reach an agreement by the stipulated time. Leader of UCPN-M Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that although the parties have not deferred from their previous stands, attempts will be made to reach a consensus.

CA Chairperson Subash Nembang has said that if the parties fail to reach consensus on the disputed issues of the constitution by September 6, a decision will be reached through the regular process of the CA.

In a meeting at Prime Minister's official residence, Baluwatar, the CPN-Maoist chaired by Mohan Baidya has reiterated its demand for an all-party assembly to resolve all contentious issues pertaining to the new constitution. Leaders of CPN-Maoist repeated their demand for an all-party national assembly, along with senior leaders of NC, CPN-UML, and UCPN-M. They also presented an eight-point 'roadmap' along the lines of their demand.

Major parties have come up with flexible positions on forms of governance and federalism in the ongoing backdoor negotiations raising hope of possible compromise, cross-party leaders said in Kathmandu. Reaching a consensus by the September 6 deadline may appear difficult, but the parties are making progress towards forging consensus, the leaders claimed.

Three major parties, the NC, the CPN-UML, and the UCPN-M agreed to hold national political conference to forge consensus on fundamental issues of the constitution drafting process, addressing the key demand of the CPN-Maoist that boycotted the CA elections last year. A meeting of the three parties and CPN-Maoist formed an eight-member taskforce to finalise the modality for holding the conference, said leaders.

In an all-party meeting between various parties, the NC, the CPN-UML, the CPN-Maoist, RPP-N and the UCPN-M represented in the CA, being held in the offices of the CPDCC in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, on issues pertaining to constitution-making, ended without any agreement. According to the schedule of the CA, if the parties fail to reach an agreement on disputed issues by September 6, a majority-vote will decide on the issues.

UCPN-M Chitwan District Chairman, Yam Bahadur Pariyar, informed that District Secretary Ramesh Regmi (Amar) and District leader Bishnuhari Timilsina were suspended from general membership for their involvement in activities against the party´s interest. Leaders close to the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and Baburam Bhattarai faction of the UCPN-M objected to this decision blaming the Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda-led faction of attempting to sell the party office, Chitwan.

A committee of the Nepal CA asked for extension of deadline to settle disputes related to the new Constitution. Chairman of the CPDCC Baburam Bhattarai handed over the committee's reports to CA Chairman Subas Nembang - one dealt with issues that claimed agreement between the political parties and the other on issues the parties failed to reach consensus by the deadline of September 6.

The Baburam Bhattarai faction of the UCPN-M has set up a separate office and into operation in Gorkha District, claiming to be the official group. The Bhattarai faction alleged that the faction within the party's district committee close to chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda tried to sideline them and hence they felt the need to establish a separate party office.

In a meeting with PM Sushil Koirala at the PM's residence in Baluwatar, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda urged the PM to take initiative to build an environment for an all-party national assembly before leaving for the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly. Dahal emphasised on the need for an all party assembly as per the agreement made to include an integral force of the peace process outside the CA - the CPN-Maoist - in the constitution making process.

The Business Advisory Committee of the CA decided to call a meeting of the CA for 5:00 pm on September 11. Lawmaker Dhanraj Gurung said that the CA meeting will begin discussion on the report of CPDCC.

Opposition parties, including UCPN-M, obstructed the meeting of Legislature Parliament for the fourth consecutive day. Before obstructing the meeting, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Nepal) Chairman Upendra Yadav addressed the House representing the opposition parties and said the new constitution would not be implemented if the parties in the government tried to promulgate it on the basis of two-third majority.

The key contentious issues of new constitution have once again reached the full house of the CA as the political parties could not settle them within three month's time provided by constitution drafting calendar. The CA's PDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai tabled the disputed issues of new constitution at the CA and demanded more time to iron out those issues based political consensus.

In a meeting, of the Recommendation Committee, responsible for nominating chairperson and members of the TRC and the CED, has endorsed its working procedure, giving much needed impetus to the transitional justice process. The Committee also decided to invite applications from eligible candidates for the posts of chairperson and members of the two commissions, TRC and CED.

Deliberations over the report prepared by the CPDCC on a report incorporating the points of contention and agreement on the basic issues of the constitution started during the full session of CA. During the deliberation over the report, NC lawmaker Ramhari Khatiwada said that although it was quite legal to extend the deadline for consensus set in the CA schedule, he urged CPDCC chair Baburam Bhattarai to not ask for the same.

Major political parties finally agreed to hold an all-party political conference on September 16 as demanded by Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist to discuss key issues of the constitution drafting process. The conference will be held in the presence of 31 parties represented in the CA and 33 parties, including the CPN-Maoist, which are outside the CA. The decision was made after a meeting cross-party taskforce comprising the second-rung leaders of four major political parties ironed out disputes over conference date and reached an agreement.

Lawmakers from the ruling NC and CPN-UML have strongly opposed any move to undermine the CA's sovereignty by any outside body. Airing their views on the report of CPDCC in a House meeting in Kathmandu, the lawmakers from the ruling parties demanded that issues related statute drafting be settled only inside the CA.

The CPN-Maoist-led 33-party bloc has "agreed" to raise identity-based federalism as its common agenda during the national political conference but the gulf in other issues remains as wide as ever.

Citing non-compliance of their agenda by major parties, the CPN-Maoist and 33-party alliance led by them decided not to attend the previously agreed all-party national political conference. Soon after, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala announced its "postponement". "When the party that had proposed the conference fails to turn up, there is no point in going ahead," the PM said. "I am saddened by their decision." The conference - a long-standing demand of Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist - was to be held at the CA premises, to try and reach consensus on contentious issues, including federalism, system of governance and electoral system.

A majority of CA members stressed that the constitution-making process should be finished before the January 22, 2015 deadline during the Assembly session as discussions continued on a report on agreed on and contentious issues prepared by the CPDCC. CA member Bhanubhakta Dhakal said the game of delaying constitution-making should be discouraged and the process has to be completed even if it means having to opt for the process of voting on contentious issues.

The CA gave the CPDCC until September 30 to forge consensus on unsettled issues of the constitution. The issues of federalism, forms of governance, judiciary and electoral system are yet to be settled. A CA Secretariat source said the CPDCC members might have to sacrifice their Dashain vacation to meet the deadline.

The UCPN-M threatened that the opposition parties would launch street protests if the government did not agree to form HLPC as per the agreement reached among the major parties on December 24. UCPN-M leader Janardan Sharma dared ruling coalition partners, NC and CPN-UML, to announce that the December 24 agreement was a mistake. Sharma urged Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to postpone his US visit until September 21, so that the parties could forge consensus to form the HLPC.

A meeting of the major political parties held in Singh Durbar in Kathmandu, concluded without a decision. The CPDCC had initiated the meeting which ended without any decision, said NC Acting President Ram Chandra Poudel. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 2 pm on September 21 for further discussion, leader Poudel added.

Disputes over the terms of reference and leadership of the proposed HLPC have affected cross-party talks on contentious issues of the constitution-writing process. Two rounds of meetings among the major parties held on September 21, did not take up statute issues owing to the HLPC dispute. Parties plan to begin informal talks on the issues of the new constitution but the opposition UCPN-M wanted the HLPC row to be settled first. The Maoist and other opposition parties have been obstructing Parliament, delaying the passage of the annual budget bill. Parties have already agreed to form the HLPC to guide tasks related to the peace process.

The UCPN-M leaders said there cannot be progress on constitution drafting process if the leadership of HLPC is denied to the party. They said since (NC and CPN-UML are in the government, the opposition party should get the HLPC leadership to make the constitution drafting and peace process easy. The Maoist leaders are of the view that as a major part of 12-point understanding and Comprehensive Peace Agreement, their party has the natural claim over HLPC leadership.

The CPDCC of the CA started deliberations to speed up discussions on contentious issues touching on the new constitution. The committee started deliberations on suggestions rendered by various concerned sides, says Committee member and Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna. The deadline for the committee to forge agreement on the disputed issues is September 30.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has said that the incumbent government is working towards disrupting the situation rather than creating an environment conducive to drafting the new constitution. Referring to the arrest of C. K. Raut by Nepal Police from Rangeli in Madhesh in Morang District on September 14, 2014, on the charges of being involved in a secessionist campaign Dahal said the ruling parties - NC and CPN-UML - have created distressful situation by arresting and torturing a hitherto unknown person and making him famous overnight just for expressing some extremist views.

The CPDCC gathered consensus on various issues pertaining to citizenship. The CPDCC decided on making provisions for four categories of citizenships -- hereditary, naturalized, honorary and special citizenship for Non-Resident Nepalis - thus, resolving existing disputes on citizenship issuance.

Leaders at the CPDCC of the CA in a meeting at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, decided to go for seven constitutional bodies in the new constitution, whereas there are only five such institutions at present. The CPDCC decided to increase the number of constitutional bodies to seven, giving constitutional status to the existing NWC and NDC.

When coalition partners NC and CPN-UML are pressing the opposition parties to settle contentious issues of constitution -writing through vote, the UCPN-M rejected the proposal. The opposition party said contentious issues should be resolved in consensus following the spirit of the 12-point understanding and the CPA.

Chairman of the CPDCC of the CA Baburam Bhattarai said that he is no longer optimistic about promulgation of a new constitution by the January 22 deadline. Bhattarai said the CA failed to make tangible progress in constitution making due to non-cooperation by top leaders of major political parties.

The meeting of three major political parties, the NC, CPN-UML, and the UCPN-M ended inconclusively in Kathmandu. The meeting was scheduled to discuss about the formation of HLPC and its leadership and resuming the obstructed legislature-parliament. The meeting was positive and serious to reach an agreement on the disputed issues of the new constitution among other issues, but ended inconclusively, said NC joint general secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka.

Chairman of the CPDCC Baburam Bhattarai said he will step down if the parties disregard consensus while drafting the new constitution. In a CPDCC meeting, Bhattarai stressed that the constitution should be drafted on the basis of consensus among the parties. The senior UCPN-M leader wants minimum consensus on key contentious issues of the new constitution even if the disputes are to be settled through a vote in the CA. Bhattarai warned that he would not submit reports to the CA if consensus is flouted.

Having missed the second deadline to settle key contentious issues of new constitution through consensus, three major political parties, the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M decided to buy another one week to make further efforts. The parties decided to reach consensus on the form of governance, federalism, electoral system and modality of judiciary within October 7 and present a report at full House CA on October 8.

UCPN-M leader Top Bahadur Rayamajhi said that party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda should lead the proposed HLPC for the new constitution to be promulgated by January 22. The UCPN-M leader also claimed that the House proceedings would not resume unless Dahal assumes the post of HLPC coordinator.

The PHSC endorsed senior judge Ram Kumar Saha as the Chief Justice at the Supreme Court as recommended by the Constitutional Council.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bam Dev Gautam speaking at an interaction organized by the Reporter's Club of Nepal in Kathmandu said that the new constitution would be promulgated by January 22, 2015 at any cost even if the political parties fail to reach consensus on the disputative issues by October 7. Gautam said that the constitution will be issued through CA's voting process by the stipulated time and those who try to obstruct the process would be subject to Nepali people's resistance.

PM Sushil Koirala started consultations aimed at finding a way to settle disputed issues regarding the constitution and to resume obstructed parliamentary proceedings. PM Koirala met with the leader of the main opposition party UCPN-M Chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, and urged Dahal to end the obstruction of parliamentary proceedings.

Addressing a religious programme organised by the Sagrahawa Temple Management Committee Tilottama-13, in Rupandehi District, CA member Abdul Rajjak said a consensus-based constitution was their first priority and would be promulgated within upcoming January 22, 2015, at any cost. If the consensus was not possible, the constitution would be promulgated on the scheduled date even by going through a process, he added.

Efforts were underway among three major political parties, the NC, CPN-UML, and the UCPN-M, to try and hammer out an agreeable solution and settle disputed issues related to the writing of the new constitution, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu. After the meeting, CPN-UML vice-chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam said the discussions sought consensus on topics that the parties had failed so far to agree on in the CPDCC sessions.

In a CPDCC meeting held at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, the term-deadline for operation of two sub-committees under the CPDCC has been extended till October 17. Discussions on the report submitted by dispute resolution committee, on concerned issues presented by other committees of the CA, were also held at the meeting.

Leaders of the ruling parties pledged to deliver the new Constitution by the agreed deadline by employing all means, including entering the process of majority voting. "We will deliver the Constitution in time," Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said, during the annual tea-party organised by the NC. "In a democracy there is always scope to reach agreement to settle issues of dispute, unlike in a dictatorial regime," he said, responding to questions about failure to reach consensus. The deadline for the Constitution is January 22 next year.

The CPDCC announced that it had decided to table the disputed issues of the new constitution at CA. CPDCC Chair Baburam Bhattarai said the issues of state-restructuring, form of governance, judiciary and electoral system would be tabled at a CA session scheduled for October 8.

The CPDCC of the CA tabled its report at the full House meeting of the CA. CPDCC chair Baburam Bhattarai submitted the report incorporating details of 30 thorny issues settled by the committee and three issues it failed to resolve, at a meeting of the CA held in the morning session of the day. The three issues which yet to be settled are related to state restructuring, system of governance and judicial system.

The RPP-N nominally obstructed the parliament proceedings, as a sign of protest against the major three political parties' - NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M - decision to form a political committee. Stating that the three major parties have worked against CA's sentiments by forming the political committee, the decision to momentarily obstruct the House came after RPP-N's parliamentary-party meeting, joint-spokesperson of the party Mohan Shrestha said.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said ethnicity-based federalism in the country is unimaginable. Addressing a meeting of the CPN-UML parliamentary party (PP) at New Baneshwor in Kathmandu, leader Oli said, "Nepal is rich in ethnic diversity. Many ethnic communities live in every village here and it is not possible to allocate the state in the name of every ethnic group."

The CA is likely to provide more time to CPDCC to find a point of agreement among the political parties on contentious issues of new constitution. CA Chairman Subas Nembang is consulting with the leaders of major parties about the duration of time to be provided to CPDCC. CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai has already submitted the committee's report mentioning that further discussions are needed to forge consensus on issues of federalism, forms of government, judiciary and electoral system.

The UCPN-M-led 22-parties' alliance organised a protest rally at Maitighar, Kathmandu. The rally started from Maitighar and turned to a street assembly at New Baneshwar. The alliance of 22-parties - comprising Federal Republican Front, the FRNF, an alliance of Madheshi and six other ethnic groups, and Identity-Based Federal Republican Alliance - had announced the launch of protest programmes against NC and CPN-UML, who have constantly pressed for the need of timely promulgation of new constitution by settling the disputed issues of constitution-making via CA's process.

The CA meeting decided to extend the tenure of CPDCC, by a week, to settle disputes over contentious issues of the constitution. The meeting of the three major parties - NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M - had made an agreement to request the CA to do so. Committee chair Baburam Bhattarai had presented a report to the CA on October 8, after CDPCC was not able to gather consensus on disputative issues of the constitution - restructuring of state, forms of governance and judiciary system.

Speaking at an interaction held at the Reporters' Club in Kathmandu, constitution expert and Chairman of the Constitutional Committee in the dissolved CA, Nilambar Acharya, said the Prime Minister's membership in the HLPC-led by of the main opposition party UCPM-M Puspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda was mocking the rule of law and weakening constitutional organs. Acharya said the Interim Constitution had not been followed and so the committee was non-judicial and should not be given any importance.

The UCPN-M has accused the ruling parties of focusing on changing the government rather than putting effort to forge consensus for constitution making. Speaking at a press conference held at UCPN-M Central office at Paris Danda, Kathmandu, party Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma urged NC and CPN-UML to keep 'government and power' as a secondary priority, and rather focus on the constitution making process.

A meeting of the three major parties - NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist - to discuss disputed contents of the new constitution is underway at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. The meeting moderated by CPDCC chairman Baburam Bhattarai will discuss the existing issues of dispute among the three major parties on issues, such as federalism, forms of governance, judicial system, restructuring of state and electoral system, has negatively affected the schedule of the Constituent Assembly.

Leaders participating in the three-party talks held at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu said they have inched closer toward finding a common model for delineating federal provinces. The ruling NC and CPN-UML have agreed to forge common position on key disputed issues pertaining to state restructuring and the system of governance, while the main opposition UCPN-M leads the other camp of political parties that has been lobbying for identity-based federal system. According to NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel, UCPN-M leaders are ready to accept six or seven-province model as proposed by NC, provided the provinces are given identity-based names.

Speaking at an interaction at the Reporters' Club in Kathmandu, Pradeep Gyawali, Secretary of the CPN-UML has warned that his party would step back from the HLPC if the UCPN-M-led opposition alliance did not withdraw announced street protests. Gyawali said his party would withdraw from the cross-party political mechanism, if the FRA led by the UCPN-M did not stop the street demonstrations. Gyawali further said the same person UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda cannot hold the HLPC coordinator's position and lead the street protests simultaneously on his moral grounds.

The CPDCC decided that the existing Legislature Parliament will elect the President and Vice-President within a month after the new constitution is promulgated. The CPDCC also decided that the new President and Vice-President will work until another election is held as per the new system devised by the constitution.

The UCPN-M submitted a list of four candidates to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for appointment as CA members. UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda submitted names of former secretary Janak Raj Joshi, left political analyst and civil society leader Shyam Shrestha, the party´s leader from Bajhang Janak Budha and Ram Maya Bogati, wife of late party leader Post Bahadur Bogati, to Prime Minister Koirala for the appointment. Of the total 26 CA members to be nominated by the cabinet, Maoists were allocated four seats as per its strength in the CA. While the NC was allocated nine seats, the CPN-UML shared eight of the total 26 seats. Remaining other seats has been allocated to other political parties. Cabinet has already appointed eight CA members each from NC and CPN-UML and one CA member from the RPP-N.

UCPN-M Chairman Dahal said that his party is ready to settle for a federal model with less than 10 provinces under the new constitution if the other parties agree to name the provinces on the basis of mixed ethnic identities. Dahal, however, clarified that the political parties must have the consent of stakeholders and intellectuals from the provinces concerned before finalizing the number and names of the provinces. Maintaining that delineation of two provinces in the Terai-Madhes could be a meeting point between Madhes-based political parties and the others, Dahal said the UCPN-M is ready to contemplate less than eight provinces in the hills.

At the meeting at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, leaders from the three major political parties-NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M, have decided to simultaneously strive to resolve the disputes over the contents of the new constitution through consensus and make preparations for deciding the disputes through voting. The decision comes just two days before the deadline given to the CPDCC of the CA to settle the remaining disputes in constitution making. The meeting decided to instruct the parliament secretariat to prepare a questionnaire on the unresolved disputes in objective format so that these could be tabled at the CA full House for voting if the parties fail to settle them in consensus.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, who also chairs the HLPC, met senior leaders of the major political parties, in an effort to forge a consensus on the remaining task of the peace process. Chairman Dahal met with NC leaders Sher Bahadur Deuba and Krishna Prasad Sitaula, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Chairman of MJF-N Upendra Yadav separately. After his meeting with CPN-UML Chair Oli at the UML Parliamentary Party Office, Chairman Dahal said, he was expediting formal and informal talks in order to help forge a consensus among the parties to promulgate the new constitution by January 22.

A meeting of the CPDCC at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu decided to seek an agreement on the voting process to settle disputed issues in the constitution-drafting if the political consensus was not possible to hammer out the matters. The meeting concluded with the decision of making efforts for consensus till the last hours of deadline, otherwise seeking an agreement on the voting process, Committee President Baburam Bhattarai said after the meeting.

The ruling coalition partner CPN-UML boycotted the Cabinet meeting at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, after the government, purportedly under the pressure from the NC, made preparations to dismiss the LSPRC.

A Cabinet meeting, nominated Rammaya Bogati of Nuwakot District, Janak Raj Joshi of Tanahun District, Shyam Kumar Shrestha of Kabhrepalanchok District and Janak Bahadur Budha of Bajhang District to the vacant posts of the 601-member CA, according to government Spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal. With the appointment, the number of nominated CA members has reached 21 out of 26.

The CA was supposed to prepare the first draft of the constitution, and forward it to the people for suggestions on October 18, as per the CA's calendar of operation, however, the CA failed to keep up with its own timetable and is now preparing to amend its calendar without changing the January 22 deadline for promulgating the constitution. Also, the CPDCC, as per its mandate given by the full House of the CA, has neither prepared the questionnaire on unsettled issues for putting them to vote at the CA full House, nor has it been able to forge consensus. After a meeting of the three parties in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu failed to find solutions, CA Chairman Subas Nembang, according to sources, suggested that the parties work to give one more chance to the CPDCC for forging consensus.

Chairman of the CPDCC of the CA Baburam Bhattarai has said that he is against further prolonging the deadline for his committee to settle contentious issues of the constitution making process. "Now we should not keep on extending the deadline ad nauseam," Bhattarai said while addressing CA´s full House meeting. He said he was feeling "a bit ashamed, uncomfortable and a bit confused" while standing at the rostrum for the third time without accomplishing the task given to the committee.

The CA, extended the term-deadline of the CPDCC till November 1, 2014, for the third and final time. The CPDCC had failed to forge consensus among the political parties on the disputed issues of the constitution by the previous deadline.

The meeting among top leaders of three major political parties, the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M that started on October 21, concluded indecisively at Gokarna Resort in Kathmandu. The meeting failed to come to a point on issues of federalism and has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 26.

The CPDCC had failed to forge consensus among political parties on the disputed issues of the constitution by the previous deadline. The CA extended the deadline given to the Committee till November 1, for the third and final time. If consensus is not reached by November 1, the committee will then have to present the progress report at the CA along with the questionnaire of unresolved disputes.

Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has held the UCPN-M responsible for turning the Gokarna residential talks inconclusive. Nepal added that the UCPN-M refused to budge from its stands of federalism based on ethnicity. He also said the additional time in the name of consensus would be fruitless and spending more time could affect the CA calendar and suggested that the CPDCC should go ahead with preparing the questionnaire regarding contentious issues of new constitution if consensus could not be forged till October 27.

Janajati leaders have said that the country should be federated into at least 10 states based on identity, as recommended by the State Restructuring Commission of the previous CA. They have also demanded that these states should be federated based on one specific cultural and historical linkage of people living in the region.

Speaking at Deusi-Bhailo programme organised by Reporters Club at ministers' quarters in Pulchowk in Kathmandu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Bamdev Gautam has clarified that the constitution will be drafted with a two-third majority on the basis of constitutional provision of voting if the political parties fails to forge consensus on time.

CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai held talks with Chairman of CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli at latter's residence in Balkot in Bhaktapur District, for around two hours on ways to find a way to settle the contentious issues of constitution including federalism, forms of governance and judiciary.

Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and Chairman of the CPDCC, Baburam Bhattarai, held a meeting at the Prime Minister´s residence in Kathmandu to forge consensus among the parties on the disputed issues of the contents of a new constitution.

The meeting of the CPN-UML and UCPN-M held to discuss the contentious issues of the constitution writing process failed to yield any decision. The meeting was held at Peace Fund Secretariat in Kathmandu to settle the disputed issues including forms of governance, state re-structuring, judiciary, and electoral system failed to forge a consensus.

The CPDCC held discussions with the Chief Justice and other senior Justices of the SC at Singh Durbar in Kathmandu. The meeting was held to discuss on the issues of judiciary in the new constitution. The leaders sought suggestions from the Justices on the provision of Constitutional Court, its jurisdiction, qualification of Justices, and process of the appointment of Justices among others.

The NHRC has sent its member Sudip Pathak as a representative for the recommendation committee for the formation of TRC and CED. With this recommendation, the five-member committee is now complete to start its work after about four months. The committee had been unable to make recommendations due to an incomplete team. The officials were only recently appointed, after a year of vacant posts. As per the new TRC and CED Act, the five members' recommendation committee, constituted under the chairmanship of a former chief justice, shall have chairperson of the NHRC or a person designated by the NHRC Chairperson as a member.

A meeting of the CPDCC ended inconclusively in Kathmandu. Although the meeting had a sparse presence of top leaders of major political parties, it continued discussions on key contentious issues of the new constitution.

PM Sushil Koirala has reiterated that the new constitution will be drafted by January 22. The PM reiterated his stance about the timely constitution even though the political parties have not reached any conclusion on the contentious issues of the new constitution. Urging all to remain positive, PM Koirala said that nobody can prevent the constitution from being promulgated on the slated timeframe.

In a meeting of the party office-bearers and leaders in Kathmandu, the UCPN-M has made a special call to all sides for coming to a consensus so as to draft a new constitution within coming January 22. The meeting also decided to exhibit maximum flexibility for forging consensus on disputed issues seen in the constitution -drafting process and paying special attention towards the establishment of political consensus, party's senior leader Baburam Bhattarai said after the meeting. The meeting further appealed the ruling parties -NC, CPN-UML - to give up the culture of sticking to old stances and to remain committed towards political consensus and cooperation.

PM Sushil Koirala has started consultation with leaders of smaller parties represented in the CA, in an attempt to gather consensus on the disputed issues of the new constitution, in a meeting held at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu. In the meeting PM held discussions with RPP-Nepal President Kamal Thapa, senior leader of RPP Surya Bahadur Thapa and Forum-Loktantrik President Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, among others and expressed his concern about the possibility of issuing the new constitution by January 22, 2015 - given that the CPDCC could not forge consensus among the parties on issues of dispute.

The 22-party-alliance led by the UCPN-M has concluded that consensus is must for the constitution drafting process to move ahead. The meeting of the alliance held at the UCPN-M's parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, concluded that there was no alternative to consensus despite the failure of the continuous meetings held among the major three parties to thrash out the contentious issues of the constitution.

A meeting of CPDCC was briefly held, before it was rescheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on November 3. "As per the regulation of Constituent Assembly, the Committee has to settle all matters on a consensus basis," said the Committee Chair Baburam Bhattarai after the meeting. "Even a report has to be prepared with consensus. Until an understanding is reached on the matter of contents and report, the meeting will go on."

Victims of the decade-long armed conflict have submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction to amend the TRC and CED. The victims have also asked the recommendation committee for the formation of TRC and CED to halt its works as the cases filed by victims against the committee are still sub judice at the Supreme Court. The victims have asked the ministry to amend the TRC and CED Act in line with the previous verdict of the Supreme Court.

Although, the deadline of the CPDCC of the CA for submitting its report to the CA full House ended on November 2, the panel failed to carry out its mandated task on November 3 as well. After the parties failed to forge consensus on both settling unresolved issues and forwarding them to the full House of the CA for resolving them through voting, the CPDCC, resorted to the tactic of filibustering. CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai said the Committee was yet to finalise discussions on the unsettled issues and the meeting was still on.

The NC and the CPN-UML, registered their proposal on state restructuring, system of governance, electoral model and judicial system, major contentious issues of the new statue, at the Parliament Secretariat. Accusing the ruling parties of preparing the proposal against the past agreements, opposition parties have expressed strong objection to it. While the ruling parties are pressuring the committee chair to forward the document to the full CA meeting for deliberations, the opposition parties, including the UCPN-M, Madesh-based parties and some other fringe political parties, have stood against forwarding it to the full House. However, CPDCC head Bhattarai claimed that the meeting was put off in a bid to avoid further confrontation among political parties.

The meeting of the CPDCC of the CA, which had resumed from November 2, has been deferred until further notice. The meeting was put off by its Chairman Baburam Bhattarai as lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties debated whether or not to forward the proposal of the ruling NC and CPN-UML to the CA.  

Baburam Bhattarai warned against hurrying decisions while drafting the constitution. Rushing in, he said, could lead to wrong decisions and reignite conflict.  ?It would be better to try and find a permanent solution to conflict, even if it took a lot more time.? "Bringing about a constitution through a constituent assembly is also about managing previous conflicts. That's why instead of inviting a resurgence of conflict by making wrong decisions by hurrying, we should try to take some time and solve issues of the conflict for once and for all," Bhattarai told journalists after a brief meeting of the CDPCC in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.

PM Sushil Koirala said a new constitution would be promulgated not only on the basis of two-third majority the ruling parties enjoy in Parliament, but also by forging consensus with the opposition parties including the UCPN-M. ?Constitution enacted through two-third majority would not be sustainable. It is our target that a constitution be issued based on the consensus of all political parties,? PM Koirala said while speaking at a program in Chitwan, Kathmandu.

Speaking with journalists in Kathmandu, chairperson of CPDCC and leader of UCPN-M, Baburam Bhattarai, said he is effortful to prevent potential conflict amid the rapid polarization among political parties. ?The seven-province non-ethnic and geographic model of federalism proposed by Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) has increased distance and suspicion among political parties,? Bhattarai said. ?We still have the chances of releasing a constitution by January 22. In between, we need to spend one or one and half week to re-engage in consensus building attempts.? 

Speaking at a consultation programme organised by the NHRC, Commission Chairman Anup Raj Sharma warned NHRC could call back its representative from the TRC and CIDP, if the transitional justice mechanisms provided amnesty to persons involved in heinous human rights violations. Sharma said serious human rights violation cases, even from the period of armed conflict, should be dealt by regular courts.

During a meeting held at the personal initiative of CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang at the CA Building in New Baneshwar, Kathmandu, top leaders of the three major political parties - the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M, have reiterated their commitment to bring the new constitution within the deadline of January 22, 2015, through an amendment in the already set calendar of events. Chairman Nembang had facilitated the meeting as the ruling and opposition parties were engaged in verbal exchanges over the past few days and the opposition parties were threatening to take to the streets if the new statute was promulgated through a two-thirds majority vote in the CA.

The UCPN-M-led alliance has turned ready to forward the joint proposal of the NC and CPN-UML to a full sitting of the CA for further deliberations. A meeting of 27 political parties (the signatory parties of the NC-CPN-UML proposal not included), convened by the UCPN-M at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, concluded that the proposal could be included in the annex of the report to be submitted by the CPDCC to the full CA.

PM and NC President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairperson KP Oli jointly organized a press conference in Kathmandu, stressing that a constitution would be promulgated by January 22 deadline is inevitable through a majority-vote process, irrespective of Maoist threat. ?The Maoists and their front?s strategy of not wanting consensus and not letting others move without consensus will not more work,? said PM Koirala.

PM Koirala urged UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda to refrain from using the language of threat and intimidation while voicing differences over various proposals floated in the course of writing the new constitution. "It seems it has become his [Dahal´s] habit to threaten and try to intimidate others whenever he finds a proposal unacceptable. I urge him to stop such behavior," said PM Koirala said at the meeting in Kathmandu.

Three Indians, identified as AV Ramesh (34), GV Hari Prasad (45) and Bhira Raghu Bhulu (68), were arrested in Nepal for allegedly carrying FICN with a face value of INR 433, 000 from the international airport in Kathmandu. The Police arrested the trio, with fake bank notes of INR 1,000 and 500 denominations, when they were preparing to fly to New Delhi from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

PM Sushil Koirala said obstructing the promulgation of new constitution on January 22 is impossible. The PM expressed the determination that the constitution writing process will complete at any cost, while speaking at a programme organised by the Ganeshman Singh and People's Movement Martyr Memorial Peace Academy on the occasion of birth centenary of supreme commander late Ganeshman Singh, in Kathmandu. The PM said he talked with UCPN-M Chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, on November 9, and urged him not to threaten them in course of constitution writing process.

The chairman of the CPDCC proposed a separate mechanism of top leaders of major parties to forge consensus on the disputed issues and the way forward in the middle of deepening crisis in the constitution drafting process. Baburam Bhattarai said an entity within the CPDCC comprised of top leaders could hold discussions necessary for ending the deadlock. The UCPN-M senior leader suggested the alternative after the CPDCC failed to settle contentious issues and the ruling party leaders refused to attend a meeting of the Political Committee called by its leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda. Ruling party leaders, however, have said it is not necessary to form another cross-party mechanism.

Ruling parties have assured the diplomatic community that they would bring a new statute by the January 22 deadline even if it requires them to put contentious issues in constitution writing to vote in the CA.  Speaking at a function organized to brief Kathmandu-based diplomats on ongoing political developments and efforts being made so far to promulgate new statute, NC President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli said ruling parties will continue make efforts for consensus till the end. The leaders mentioned with special emphasis that they would bring new statute in a ?democratic spirit? if their efforts to forge consensus do not yield results. 

Key Madhesi political parties, said they would not join the government until a new constitution is promulgated. Top leaders of the Madhesi political parties took a decision to this effect during the meeting held at parliamentary party office of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. 

Chairperson of the CPDCC Baburam Bhattarai said it is still possible to forge consensus among political parties on contents of the constitution. Bhattarai jointly organised a press conference with UCPN-M Vice-Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha at his Sanepa-based residence to make public his and UCPN-M?s view toward latest political developments.

UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda challenged the ruling NC and CPN-UML coalition to replace UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai as the chairman of the Legislature-Parliament's CPDCC if they wanted to issue the constitution using their majority at the CA. Talking at a CPDCC meeting, Dahal said that the NC - CPN-UML joint proposal on the main sticking points for the content of the new constitution could not be presented to the CA. If the coalition wants to go ahead with two-thirds majority and present their proposal to the CA, they would have to replace the CPDCC chair before they could proceed, Dahal warned NC and CPN-UML leaders. While NC and CPN-UML kept the pressure in CPDCC meeting to have their proposal sent to the CA, leaders of UCPN-M and Madhesh-based parties kept challenging them to issue the constitution using their majority if they dared. They said there was no alternative but to promulgate the constitution through consensus and stressed on working towards an agreement. 

CPDCC chair Baburam Bhattarai reiterated that attempts to build consensus should continue even if it meant taking a few more days. Bhattarai continues to maintain that it would be best if the parties take an extra four to five days to discuss to build an agreement in the different levels of talks between the top three parties, held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu.

Party secretary Netra Bikram Chand, leader of a faction of CPN-Maoist, threatened to launch another round of armed insurgency should it be excluded from the country?s political process. Chand said they would go for revolution if mainstream parties continue to bypass them in the overall political process. At a press conference after a secret meeting of the party, Chand said the party needed its own army and organisations to fight for the welfare of the people. ?The state has already raised the weapons so it would be legitimate for us to launch revolt for establishing people?s rights,? Chand said. 

A meeting of top leaders from the ruling coalition partner CPN-UML and the main opposition party UCPN-M could not find any common ground for settling the major disputes in the constitution-making process. Leaders from the two parties held a meeting at Baneshwar, Kathmandu in an effort to end the protracted deadlock at the CPDCC of the CA.

PM Sushil Koirala requested journalists and the media to not refrain from publishing news that could drive political parties apart. ?We need positive support from everyone to help us issue a new constitution by its scheduled date if we are to ensure political stability in the country. I ask journalists to also not distribute news in such a manner that they create rifts between parties and produce cracks,? Koirala said, in an address delivered at the 7th Academic Assembly of Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, in Kamaladi, Kathmandu.

The Mohan Baidya aka Kiran-led CPN-Maoist, which has been going through an internal conflict for some time, has split up after a splinter-group led by party secretary Netra Bikram Chand submitted a letter to the CPN-Maoist central committee announcing its intentions to separate. The Chand-led faction in a statement said "We have reached a conclusion that the role played by comrade Kiran and others will be unable to remove the obstruction that has remained inside the party for a long time or lead the class struggle. So we are informing you that we are separating from Kiran's leadership, effective from November 24."

The UCPN-M led 22-parties' front at a press meet organized in Kathmandu urged the NC and CPN-UML to withdraw their seven-province proposal and the corresponding signature petition submitted at the CPDCC. The front said that there still is room for consensus if the NC and CPN-UML draw back the jointly presented seven-province proposal.

Indian PM Narendra Modi urged Nepal's political parties to go by consensus, not numerical majority. "The Constitution should be written on the basis of consensus," PM Modi said at the inauguration and hand-over ceremony of the Trauma Centre, built with Indian support, in Kathmandu. "A Constitution written on numerical basis will not be in Nepal's interest." Nepal's PM Sushil Koirala, who has been advocating voting on disputed issues, was on the podium when PM Modi aired his views.

The Chairman of the CPDCC of the CA, Baburam Bhattarai, called a meeting of the CA panel at 1:00pm on November 30, which was postponed indefinitely due to deadlock over ruling parties' joint proposal on key issues of the constitution. CA Chair Subas Chandra Nembang persuaded Bhattarai and told him to call the panel's meeting so as to forge consensus on the vexed issues.

Netra Bikram Chand announced that his faction was now involved in new a revolution. Speaking at a party cadres meet in Chitwan, Bharatpur, leader Chand urged cadres of other parties to join his party with a new spirit for revolution. He however did not mention about way and type of the new revolution. Chand further said that he announced a new revolution as the people could not feel any change even after a big political change.

Leaders of the major parties decided to engage in informal talks in search of consensus for resolving the disputes in the constitution writing process. Meetings of the HLPC led by UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and the CPDCC led by Baburam Bhattarai concluded that the top leaders should take charge of ironing out the differences among the parties on the contents of the new constitution. As per the agreement, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and Dahal will explore alternatives on the process and the substance of constitution-writing.

The CPDCC meeting that lasted 10 minutes was deferred by three days (December 3) after the leaders demanded a few days' time for preparations. Bhattarai said that the stalled talks among the parties had resumed. The UCPN-M proposed inducting the Madhesh-based parties into cross-party talks. The party believes that the support of the regional parties is crucial for finalising the constitution.

During the meeting held at Singha Durbar, Dahal decided to ask the government to expedite the process of forming TRC and Disappearance Commission, to provide transitional justice to conflict victims.

Referring to the delay in CPDCC forwarding its report to the CA full House, CA Chairman Subas Nembang has said that is a serious matter. ?Failure to abide by the CA?s mandate even one month after the deadline for report submission expired is serious. It has raised many questions. Since, the CPDCC is represented by top leaders of 31 parties they should abide by the CA?s instructions and rules. If the panel fails to do its mandated task, it should clear the way for the CA to move forward,? said Subas Nembang.

Organising a press conference in Kathmandu, Netra Bikram Chand formally announced formation of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M). Chand also announced to organise first national convention of the new party from January 7-10, 2015. The new party includes former leaders of CPN-Maoist, including Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma, Ishwari Dahal, Dharmendra Banstola, Tilak Pariyar and Santosh Budha. Further, Chand said the party has no plans to launch an armed revolt. Chand, however, clarified that his party is ready to retaliate if the government tries to suppress their struggle.

Various conflict victim organisations accused the government of ignoring those who were rendered disabled by the decade-long conflict, and also warned of launching stern protest if their demands were not addressed immediately. The conflict victims also submitted a memorandum to Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Kathmandu, calling for preparing data of people who were rendered disabled during the conflict.

Chairman KP Oli of the ruling CPN-UML formally proposed the Madhesh-based parties affiliated to the ?Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha? to join the government during a meeting at the CPN-UML Parliamentary Party Office in Kathmandu. The alliance of Madhesh-based reiterated its previous stance of not joining the government unless a new constitution was formed.

CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai said the constitution making process fell into a quandary owing to failure on part of the major political parties to reach an agreement on contentious issues. After receiving a memorandum for a timely delivery of the new constitution from the FNJ Lalitpur Chapter in Kathmandu at his residence, Bhattarai underlined the problem created by the widening polarization among the parties. He underscored the constitution making as a subject which could not entertain majority and minority voting process while stressing on agreement as the only resolution for the rising dispute. 

Leaders of the three major political parties, the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M claimed that they were close to an agreement on breaking the month-long deadlock that has crippled the CPDCC of the CA.

A meeting of the CPDCC held after a long period of suspension, has handed committee Chairman Baburam Bhattarai the responsibility to present the committee report, on contentious issues of the constitution, to the CA. CPDCC was unable to present its due-report to the CA in time due to a drawn-out dispute among the parties on four major contents of the constitution.

Chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Baidya, speaking at a programme organised by the party's Tharuwan State Committee in Nepalgunj, Kathmandu, said the split in CPN-Maoist as an unfortunate incident. It would affect the party organization right now but the CPN-Maoist would play effective roles to unite the real communists and carry out the remaining tasks of the people's revolution, he said.

Majority of CC members of the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist in the far-western districts have joined the party´s splinter CPN-M formed on December 1, under the leadership of Netra Bikram Chand.

The CA Secretariat is preparing to fast-track the constitution drafting process by revising its working calendar in order to relax the requirement of sending the statute draft for public discussion. ?I am prepared to take all the necessary measures to ensure that the new constitution is issued on time,? said CA Chairman Subas Nembang. Following his instruction, secretariat officials have expedited the groundwork to fast-track the process. 

The disputed issues of the constitution writing process are once again likely to be sent back to the CPDCC after theoretical deliberations in the full House CA. Sources said that there has been an agreement among the top leaders from the major political parties to send the disputed issues back to the CPDCC, despite opposition from some second-rung leaders from the ruling parties. CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai could not submit the committee's report to CA Chair Nembang on December 4, as the senior leaders were busy in party-related tasks. 

Chairman of CPDCC Baburam Bhattarai has submitted a report, containing subjects of contention among the political parties, to the Chairman of CA Subash Chandra Nembang. In the report submitted, issues such as federalism, forms of governance, election system, judiciary, among others, have been mentioned.  After receiving the report, Nembang has called for a meeting of the CA on December 9, in which Bhattarai's report will be discussed upon.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held discussion with top-leaders of the Madheshi-front at his Balkot residence in Kathmandu. According to the Madheshi leaders present at the meet, Oli and other leaders of CPN-UML requested the front affiliated parties to join the government. The front, from the very beginning, was against the seven-province federal model jointly proposed by CPN-UML and the NC.

The Dailekh District Court in Kathmandu, convicted five persons in the 2004 murder case of journalist Dekendra Thapa, a correspondent for state-owned Radio Nepal, who was abducted on June 26, 2004, and later was killed by the then Maoist cadres on August 11, 2004. A single bench of District judge Dilli Ratna Shrestha convicted Jaya Bahadur Sahi, Hira Lal Pun, Nirak KC, Bir Bahadur Gharti and Laxmiram Gharti in the Thapa murder case.

CA Chairperson Subash Nembang held separate consultation meeting with PM and NC President Sushil Koirala along with top leaders of CPN-UML and UCPN-M, to discuss about the constitution making process. During all discussions, CA chairperson Nembang urged the top three leaders to give up disputes and work towards bringing a constitution by January 22 deadline, even going through a fast-track, according to parliament secretariat?s spokesperson Sudarshan Kuikel.

The CPN-Maoist chaired by Mohan Baidya has submitted an 11-point memorandum to PM Sushil Koirala, demanding dissolution of Constituent Assembly and conducting an all-party conference.

The Madhes-centric parties have reiterated their calls for ensuring identity-based federalism through CA. Members of the ?Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha? have decided to intensity strategies both within and outside the CA for timely promulgation of the new statute. The alliance of Tarai parties, while making its working procedure and strategies public, also stressed that the constitution should be made in consensus.

A meeting of top officials of the CPN-UML held at party chair KP Oli?s residence at Balkot, Bhaktapur, decided to take the ?lead initiatives? to ensure that a new constituted is promulgated on the stipulated date of January 22, 2015.

Top leaders have stepped up talks with a view to deciding what to do next after the disputes in constitution making are discussed in the full House of the CA later this week. Though the CPDCC of the CA forwarded the report containing the list of disputes to the CA plenary on December 5, major political parties are still sharply divided over what to do next after the deliberations. CA Chairman Subas Nembang held separate meetings with PM Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, so that parties agree on a way out before the CA concludes deliberations on disputed issues in the CA full House.

Addressing the CPN-UML CC meeting, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said that new constitution can be promulgated by January 22, 2015, by just making some updates to the present interim statute. Oli argued that issuance of an updated version of the Interim Constitution-2007 can be better for the country than further prolonging deadlock in the constitution making process.

PM Sushil Koirala has officially invited US President Barack Obama to visit Nepal, by handing over an invitation letter to US Ambassador to Nepal, Peter W. Bodde at the PM's official residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu, according to PM Koirala's press convenor Prakash Adhikari.

At an interaction programme at Reporters' Club in Kathmandu, leaders of different political parties are still vacillating between consensus and voting to deliver a new constitution within the ruling party's self-imposed deadline to craft a constitution by January 22. NC spokesperson Dilendra Badu said the parties would decide the process for settling the disputed and contentious issues by this December 11. CPN-UML Secretary Pradip Gyawali, also present at the programme, said the parties would try to craft the new constitution through consensus.

Addressing a meeting of CPN-UML lawmakers at the CA building, New Baneshwar, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli said that he would stand against sending the report containing the disputes back to the CPDCC, which is headed by UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai. CPN-UML leaders and lawmakers from the party have reiterated that the list of disputes in constitution-making must not be sent back to the CPDCC.

Speaking at a programme in Kathmandu, CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang has expressed his dissatisfaction over the report submitted by the CPDCC, hinting that it was not on a par with the CA's specification. Nembang said the CA had directed the Committee to prepare its report along with questionnaire. The report, however, lacked questionnaire on the issues that the Committee was mandated to deal with.

Top leaders of three major political parties, including NC President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, expressed their commitment to provide all necessary support to the recommendation committee for the formation of the TRC and the CED.

PM Sushil Koirala said that the human rights were inalienable entities that should be upheld, but remained non-committal on the issues of the conflict victims. Acknowledging the need of the constitution in safeguarding human rights, PM Koirala sought a constructive role from everyone for its timely promulgation.

Chairperson of CPDCC Baburam Bhattarai presented a report of the Committee to the CA for the fourth time. The report says that the disputed issues will go back to the committee for further considerations.

President Ram Baran Yadav called on parties to find a 'political compromise' to promulgate new constitution on time. President Yadav told top leaders including UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel and CPN-UML senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal to ensure that the parties meet the January 22 deadline.

The Mohan Baidya aka Kiran-led CPN-Maoist has warned of drafting a 'people's constitution' through a popular movement. Unveiling its official position on the key contentious issues of the new constitution, Chairman Baidya said the new constitution would not solve the problems confronting the nation as the CA was preparing to draft a constitution similar to an old version. At a news conference in Kathmandu, the party also made public its views on federalism, form of government, judiciary and electoral system.

A sub-committee of the CA's CPDCC coordinated by Anand Dhungana has reached an understanding with Terai Madhes Tigers, an armed outfit active in the central southern plains of Nepal. According to Dhungana, the talks were held in Bhairahawa, Rupandehi and the outfit led by its chieftain Jai Prakash Yadav has signed a four-point agreement with the team.

As dispute continues among major political parties over whether to send back the report submitted earlier by the CPDCC to the full CA, an overwhelming majority of the NC's CWC members have asked the party leadership not to agree to any proposal to send the report to CA Committee again. Speaking during the party´s CWC meeting held at the prime minister´s official residence in Baluwatar, CWC members argued that sending back the report to CPDCC will only delay the constitution drafting process and eventually makes it impossible to meet the January 22 deadline.

As major political forces are intensifying inter-party negotiations on constitution drafting, Madhes-based parties have insisted that five Districts - namely Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur - should not be included in the same provinces as hill Districts. The NC and the CPN-UML have proposed including the five Districts in the provinces comprising hill Districts.

The NC reiterated its commitment to promulgating a new constitution within the set deadline of January 22, 2015. A joint meeting of the party´s parliamentary party and CWC held at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala´s official residence in Baluwatar, decided to air party´s views in line with the joint proposal submitted earlier by NC, CPN-UML, RPP-N and Bahujan Shakti Party and independent lawmakers to CPDCC of the CA, which will be holding deliberations on the report from December 15.

Highlighting party's bottom-line on key contentious issues, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, hinted at a strong chance of promulgation of new constitution. Dahal, however, did not mention whether the parties would meet the January 22, 2015, deadline or make further extensions. The Maoist chairman reiterated that a new constitution is essential to preserve the achievements made by 10-year insurgency and other political movements.

The CA started discussing the report of CPDCC. The Committee chair Baburam Bhattarai requested CA chair Subash Nembang to start the discussion. Speaking in the CA meeting, NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel said it is unfortunate that the report is a document of "disagreement" even in its fourth presentation.

Senior leaders of the NC, CPN-UML and some other political parties lobbied strongly against sending the disputes back to the CPDCC, which is headed by Baburam Bhattarai. The leaders from the ruling parties said the contentious issues should either be decided through voting in the full CA or else the plenary can form a special mechanism to resolve the issues. However, senior UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara proposed to send the disputes back to the CPDCC for consensus efforts, saying that it would be too early to decide the major disputes through voting in the full CA.

As lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties have been continuously disputing over whether the CPDCC of the CA should be given some more days to settle the disputes of constitution making, some of the lawmakers have exerted pressure on the CA chairman Subas Nembang to take initiative to end the deadlock from the CA plenary. Leaders from NC and CPN-UML, among some other political parties, have fervently opposed the proposal to send the disputes back to the CPDCC, while, UCPN-M and Madhes-based parties have been insisting that the CPDCC is the only body that is entrusted with the task of settling the disputes and that the disputes should be sent back to the committee for one more time.

Eleven student unions aligned to various political parties, including ruling parties submitted a memorandum to CA Chairman Subas Nembang demanding timely promulgation of the statute.

The UCPN-M and Madheshi parties have started preparation to launch decisive agitation after talks between major parties and leaders have been withheld. A meeting of the UCPN-M led FRF held at Singha Durbar issued a warning that the front would try to hold discussion with other parties for a few days, failing which they would start the protest. The Friday meeting called for a meeting of 19-parties affiliated to the front on December 20, and a meeting of 22-parties on December 21.

The ruling NC and CPN-UML have agreed to hold "decisive talks" with the opposition UCPN-M and Madhes-based parties to settle the disputed issues of the constitution drafting process. A meeting of the ruling alliance held at Prime Minister Sushil Koirala's official residence in Baluwatar reached an understanding, to put the disputes to vote, if consensus efforts go futile.

NBA, the umbrella organization of lawyers across the country, has concluded that the recently promulgated TRC, Commission for Investigation of Disappeared Persons Formation Act 2014 needs amendment. An expert committee formed by NBA under the leadership of former Justice Pawan Kumar Ojha had conducted a study on whether the act was in line with international standards and the Supreme Court verdicts in cases related to transitional justice. NBA launched the report amidst a program in the capital, Kathmandu.

The main opposition UCPN-M walked out of the three-party meeting of NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, to seek consensus on the contentious issues of constitution drafting. UCPN-M leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said they left the meeting as the ruling NC and CPN-UML were leading the discussions towards putting the issues of contention to constitutional provision of voting rather than drafting the constitution on consensus.

Chairperson of CPDCC and UCPN-M senior leader Baburam Bhattarai has urged political leaders to ensure that the past achievements of Nepal are institutionalized in the process of enacting a new constitution in haste. Speaking at a human rights program in Bhaktapur, Bhattarai said it is not important as to whether the constitution would be promulgated on January 22 or February 22, but the main thing is to ensure that the constitution would be good enough.

A meeting of UCPN-M and Madhesi Front decided to launch protests, alleging NC and CPN-UML of moving ahead ignoring demands of the opposition parties. The meeting has formed an 11-member task force under the leadership of UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara. The task force has to finalize protest plans by December 22, and submit it to the joint Front of UCPN-M and Madhesi Front on December 23.

The ruling and opposition parties in the CA are at odds over how much more time to give for consensus efforts on promulgating new statute. While the ruling parties are for promulgating new statute by January 22 even it calls for voting process in the CA, opposition parties have maintained that consensus efforts should be continued until there is consensus among all parties on constitutional issues. Speaking at a debate organized by the FNCCI in Kathmandu, the opposition parties even warned that failure to promulgate new statute through consensus will invite fresh conflict in Nepal. NC Vice President Ram Chandra Paudel alleged that opposition parties were interpreting consensus to suit their own interests.

December 23

Twelve student unions including the organiser, ANNFSU, the student wing of CPN-UML, organised a 'sleep rally' in Kathmandu, to pile pressure on the political parties to promulgate the new constitution in time. The rally that began from Maitighar Mandala concluded outside CA building in Nayabaneshwor.

CA Chairman Subas Nembang and lawmakers of the ruling parties have urged the opposition parties to withdraw their protest programs announced on December 22. At a meeting held at CA building, Nembang urged UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, who also leads the alliance of opposition parties, to withdraw all protest programs.

The UCPN-M, remained absent in the scheduled meeting of the three major parties. The meeting ended inconclusively after the UCPN-M did not turn up. UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal reached the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar and urged PM Sushil Koirala to invite Madhes-based parties to the meeting. A meeting including the three major parties and Madhesi alliance was scheduled December 24, after Dahal's request.

The UCPN-M floated a fresh proposal seeking delineation of the country into six provinces in the federal setup. The new proposal floated by UCPN-M, which also leads the alliance of opposition parties, is expected to help end the ongoing deadlock over major contentions issues in constitution writing. The Maoist proposal seeks mixed ethnic identity as the major basis for delineation of provinces. The party has proposed, Limbuwan-Kirat-Koshi in the eastern hills, Mithila-Bhojpura-Madhes in eastern and central Tarai, Tamsling-Newa-Bagmati in central part of the country, Tamuwan-Magarat-Gandaki in the western hills, Tharuhat-Awadh-Lumbini in the western Tarai and Bheri-Karnali-Seti-Mahakali in the far west part of the country.

PM Sushil Koirala urged CPN-UML Chairperson KP Oli and UCPN-M Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda to stop blaming each other and instead, work towards creating an environment of trust. In separate meetings with Oli and Dahal at PM Koirala's residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu, the PM said Oli and Dahal have to be flexible to promulgate a constitution within the stipulated deadline of January 22, 2014.

The four major political parties formed a taskforce to seek consensus on disputed issues of new constitution. The taskforce, comprising second-rung leaders from the ruling and opposition parties, have been asked to come up with a consensus proposal on the disputed issues within two days. Members of the taskforce include NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula, CPN-UML Vice-chairperson Bhim Rawal, UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Laxman Lal Karna of Sadbhawana Party.

PM Sushil Koirala said even seven Pradeshes will be more than necessary for a small country like Nepal. Inaugurating the 41st general convention of Nepal Jaycees in Banepa of Kavre, Koirala said Nepal cannot afford as many as seven Pradeshes once it adopts the federal structure.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, while speaking at a programme organised to mark the 121st birthday of Mao Zedong in his party office, said Nepal has got the opportunity to lead the communist agitation of the world. He said that there is the possibility for Nepali communist forces to take the leadership of world's communist movement if all of them could unify ideologically.

Deliberations continue over the CA's CPDCC report at the CA meeting, since December 15 after CPDCC Chair Baburam Bhattarai submitted the report on December 10. Initiating the discussion, NC Ambika Basnet expressed her view that the CA should not be held captive in the name of a consensus. Likewise, CPN-UML's Rajan Bhattarai said it is unfortunate that Nepal has failed to draft a new constitution even in seven years. However, deliberations continued on the report.

Lawmakers from NC and CPN-UML have exerted pressure on top political leaders and CA Chairman Subas Nembang to decide the disputes in constitution making through voting so as to bring the new constitution by January 22.

The central committee meeting of UCPN-M has begun in the party's headquarters at Koteshwor, Kathmandu, in which Baburam Bhattarai has put forth his claim for the post of party chairmanship. The meeting discussed future course of works and calling a special convention soon. Party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda presented his political report, while standing committee members floated their views on the report.

Chairman of the CA Subash Chandra Nembang said that the CA would proceed as per its rules if the parties failed to forge consensus on disputed constitutional issues. Nembang has called a meeting of the BAC of CA on December 31 with the five top leaders of major parties - NC President and Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa and MJF-D Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar. Nembang told that the BAC would discuss several options on the process of drafting the new constitution.

A meeting of the central committee of the UCPN-M held at the party office in Kathmandu reached a conclusion that a consensus between parties was not possible in the near future and decided to start preparations for protests. The meeting also accused the ruling coalition of NC and CPN-UML of not being in favor of consensus.

Chairman of the CA Subas Chandra Nembang, asked the parties represented in the CA to forge consensus on the process to be adopted in the constitution drafting process if there is no consensus on key issues of new constitution. The head of the constitution drafting body also warned of moving ahead as per the traditions and CA rules of procedures if the political parties fail to suggest a proper course of action.

The Mohan Baidya led CPN-Maoist has claimed that the party has announced its protest programs in coordination with the UCPN-M. Unveiling the protest programs, CPN-Maoist Vice-chairman CP Gajurel said the protest programs finalized in consultation with the UCPN-M.

A meeting of CA lawmakers under 50 years of age, held at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, announced launch of programmes including sit-ins, hunger-strike and picketing meeting of senior leaders, to exert pressure for issuing at least a draft of the Constitution on January 22. The meeting decided to hold a wide gathering of lawmakers on January 9, to launch additional pressure programmes for timely issuance of the constitution.

The UCPN-M has formed five sub-committees to manage its upcoming January 3-19 protest programmes and make them systematic and effective. The protests are aimed at putting pressure on the ruling coalition to choose consensus ahead of the CA's January 22, 2015, schedule for bringing out a new constitution.