Two major parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are discouraging their Constituent Assembly members from registering amendment bills to revise the constitution draft without permission. This explains why the CA Secretariat received only three proposals on the first day of a weeklong deadline.

According to the secretariat, more than 100 forms were issued to CA members to register amendment bills. Most of them were taken by members from smaller parties. The ruling NC and UML have told their CA members that they need to take consent from the chief whip if they wish to register an amendment.

The CA Rules of Procedure-2014 that governs the activities of CA members is silent on whether the parties can impose a whip on their members like in Parliament. Some argue that lawmakers are not bound by party policies in the CA.

Major parties are pressing their members against proposing amendments in order to expedite constitution-making. They fear that a large number of proposals could delay the constitution promulgation process. “We have directed our CA members not to register amendment proposals individually because their endorsement requires a two-thirds majority,” NC Chief Whip Chin Kaji Shrestha told the Post.

The UML has also issued a strong message to its CA members not to register any amendment proposal against the party policy. Chairman KP Oli has publicly urged lawmakers to follow the party guidelines.

Dalit, Tharu and Madhesi members from the parties want to register amendment bills on several provisions of the draft constitution. In order to address the demands of Dalit, Janajati and other marginalised communities, some CA members are preparing to table amendment proposals which will be backed by major parties in the CA.

“The NC, UML move seems positive because the constitution drafting process will be complicated if all the CA members register amendment proposals. CA members should respect the directives issued by their party,” said Tek Prasad Dhungana, former legal advisor to the CA.

The main opposition UCPN (Maoist), however, is preparing to register amendment proposals on several issues including forms of government, citizenship and some fundamental rights.

“Our CA members are free to register amendment bills as there is no provision for a party whip in the CA,” said Maoist Chief Whip Giriraj Mani Pokhrel.

Amendments sought

Deepak Bohara of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal has registered an amendment motion demanding a separate province from Nawalparasi to Bardiya. He has also demanded removing secularism from the draft constitution. Shiva Lal Thapa and Sima Bk of Janamukti Party have jointly demanded change in the national flag and the national animal.