Parliament was a perfect pandemonium on Saturday evening, and amidst the din of slogan-shouting by the agitating Madhes-based parties, it endorsed the First Amendment to the Constitution of Nepal, exactly four months after its promulgation on September 20.

Of the 468 lawmakers who participated in voting on Saturday, 461 voted in favour of the Constitution Amendment Bill and seven lawmakers—from Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party and Rastriya Janamorcha—voted against.

The Madhes-based parties, who since the country adopted the new charter have been protesting in the Tarai plains, did not participate in the voting.

Saturday’s vote amended three Articles of the constitution: Article 42 (social justice), Article 84 (formation of House of Representatives) and Article 286 (Electoral Constituency Delineation Commission).