Maoists give in; CA tern extended without PM’s resignation

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 29 May: Finally with Maoist support, the constituent assembly (CA) tenure was extended by one year at 1.25 in the morning Saturday or 85 minutes after the deadline expired to extend its two-year tenure.
Altogether 585 lawmakers voted for the one-year extension and five votes against the 8th amendment to the interim constitution proposed by government.
Maoists only got a written commitment from leaders of two ruling parties Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will resign at an unspecified time to form a ‘national consensus government’.
The premier is not a signatory to the three-point agreement signed by Chairman Prachanda, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel and UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal.
The document said three largest parties will move ahead with ‘consensus and cooperation’ to complete the peace process and write a constitution.
The document doesn’t mention the ‘package deal’ pressed by the NC and UML.
Meanwhile, the nation Saturday is celebration the 2nd republic day as government and parties failed to promulgate a constitution to institutionalize a republic declared by an unelected and self-appointed parliament.
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