TWO MOTORCYCLISTS KILLED AFTER CAR HIT IN THIMI Kathmandu, 14 Oct.: Two motorcyclists from the capital were killed intantly after being his Saturday by a speeding car near Thimi and two others were injured. Wangdel Lama and Phurba Tendi Lama of Lazimpat were killed. Two persons were injured when the car smashed against another motorcycle. nnnn PRIVATE SECRETARY OF NC LEADER RAM CHANDRA PAUDEL ARRESTED FOR GAMBLING Kathmandu, 14 Oct. : Jagdish Neupane Private Secretary of NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel, jas been arrested while gambling, Tapendra Karki writes in Rajdhani. He was picked up by police from a guest house in Naya bus park while gambling. nnnn NC, UML SUSPICIOUS OF MAOIST CHIEF’S MOVES Kathmandu, 14 Oct.: The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have sought assurance from UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that the new constitution will be drafted through the revived Constituent Assembly if they are to agree to Dahal's new proposal, lma;a Dev Bhattarai writes in The Kathmandu Post.. The Maoist supremo has suggested that the new constitution could be promulgated through a resurrected CA by incorporating the already agreed-upon issues and referring the remaining contentious issues, mainly those of federalism, to a new parliament or a referendum. The opposition parties have not rejected the proposal outright but say it is vague. NC and UML leaders are seeking assurance from Dahal, ruing that he had deceived and misled them right from the signing of the 12-point deal in 2005. According to leaders, both NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal reportedly told Dahal that his proposal was positive but they could not trust him easily for his frequent changes of stance. Dahal urged top leaders from the NC and the UML to either agree to his proposal or present theirs to end the stalemate. The same proposal was floated by the two parties on May 27 but the Maoists and the Madhes-based parties had rejected it, leading to the dissolution of the CA without delivering a constitution. According to Maoist Spokesman Agni Sapkota, they are not proposing compromises on contentious issues of state restructuring. "We have proposed incorporating all the agreed-upon issues but will go to parliamentary elections to settle the contention related to state restructuring," said Sapkota. Leaders from the NC and the UML say that, on May 15, Dahal was ready to promulgate the new constitution with agreed contents and settling the remaining issues of federalism through provincial parliaments. But Dahal backtracked on the agreement, said leaders, after failing to convince Madhesi and Janajati leaders of the idea. "He should convince the Madhesi and Janajati constituencies on the disputed issues before reviving the CA ," said NC General Secretary Prakash Man Singh. Maoist leaders, on the other hand, said that talks with other parties and Janajati groups will be held once the major parties are prepared for CA revival. The Maoist leadership seems optimistic that once the major parties agree to its proposal, the Madhesi and other parties will follow suit. "However, we should take the Supreme Court, the international community and the President into confidence before reviving the CA ," said Sapkota. Maoist leaders said that they had floated the proposal considering that chances of an agreement among the major political parties on state restructuring are slim and it is better to settle the issues in parliament. The new proposal would also preserve the achievements of the CA . The Maoists fear that if the parties fail to reach an agreement by November, all the gains in the constitution-writing process will be lost and the political parties and their leaders will fail. Maoist leaders said this was not to deceive the opposition but to end the deadlock at any cost. "This is not a change of mind. It is dynamism and dedication to spare the country a grave crisis," said Maoist Spokesman Sapkota. nnnn NC ALSO MOVING TOWADS ELECTIONS Kathmandu, 14 Oct.: As the political-cum-constitutional stalemate continues, some Nepali Congress leaders have suggested that the party leadership focus on election, rather than continue to seek Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's resignation, The Kathmandu Post writes.. They have said that since toppling the government with street protests is impossible in the near future, the party should lead talks to ensure early election. Some leaders have also proposed that the party join the incumbent government for the election purpose. If it is not possible to join the government, the party should go to the polls by remaining outside, they maintain. Narahari Acharya, Gagan Thapa, Sujata Koirala, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Ramesh Rijal and Kul Bahadur Gurung are among leaders who say the party should go for a fresh mandate. “It is not possible to unseat the government through street protests in the immediate future so party should go to the polls by joining the government, if possible,” said NC Central Committee member Ramesh Rijal. Speaking at a programme, NC leader Kul Bahadur Gurung lambasted the party leadership for running after power. “The party leadership is giving up its ideology and political issues,” said Gurung. Since the party remains undecided as to how it wishes to break the political deadlock, NC leaders are divided over the probable options. Senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and party Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel have stood in favour of CA revival, while party President Sushil Koirala prefers fresh polls. However, Koirala is flexible on CA revival if UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal creates an environment conducive to it. Meanwhile, Koirala said in Bardiya on Saturday said that the UCPN (Maoist) acts had created a trust deficit among the parties. He rejected the possibility of reviving the Constituent Assembly. Koirala accused the Maoists of attempting in vain a 'political coup'. nnnn