Maoists to make public position on CA extension Sunday

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 23 May: Maoists will make public their party position on the extension of the constituent assembly (CA) tenure Sunday at the conclusion of a three-day crucial meet of the party central committee.
Remaining members of the committee will present their views on Party Chairman Prachanda’s political report Sunday.
The chairman will respond to questions raised by standing committee, politburo and central committee members in that order after which the report will be put to vote.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Saturday asked the main opposition Maoists not to link his resignation with CA’s extension calling for a cooperative and positive attitude
The two-year tenure of the assembly ends in another five days Friday.
Constitutional lawyers are divided whether the fixed CA tenure can be extended with one section saying the tenure can’t be extended and another group suggesting another assembly election is the only solution.
Fifteen of 25 parties in the CA/parliament Saturday asked three major parties to come to an agreement to break the extended deadlock and prevent a constitutional and political crisis.
Government has registered an 8th amendment bill to the interim constitution in parliament to extend the CA tenure by one year/
The bill can only be approved by a two-third majority vote with Maoist support—hence the anxious wait for the Maoist position.
Maoist Secretary CP Gajurel said Saturday the interim constitution (IC) preamble notes the IC will continue until another constitution is promulgated—an argument denied by the premier.
The legality of the 8th amendment bill has been challended in the supreme court.
Reflecting the interventionist role of foreign countries in Nepal’s internal politics in the last four years, Norway, a oil-rich Scandinavian country, made an effort last week to persuade political parties to end the impasse.
International Development Minister Erik Solheim, a frequent Nepall visitor, made the request during his fourth Nepal visit.
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