The ruling coalition is preparing to make “last-ditch” efforts to take the main opposition CPN-UML on board for tabling the constitution amendment bill in Parliament.

Leaders of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress are said to be making efforts to get the UML, which has been obstructing the parliamentary proceedings since the government registered the amendment bill in the Parliament Secretariat on November 29, to allow the House to decide the fate of the bill.

A meeting of the Maoist Headquarters on Friday decided to table the bill in Parliament on Sunday.

Maoist Centre leader Agni Sapkota said they would continue their efforts to reach an accord with the main opposition. “We will use Saturday and even Sunday morning to try to bring the UML on board before tabling the bill,” he said.

Following the Supreme Court’s refusal on Monday to issue an interim order against the preparations to forward the amendment bill, a meeting of the ruling coalition and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha on Thursday agreed to table the bill in Parliament. The UML has warned of stern action if the government tabled the bill unilaterally.

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi urged the UML to allow deliberations on the bill before deciding its fate. “The court has clearly stated that Parliament is solely authorised to make and amend laws. We will hold thorough discussion on the bill before finalising it,” said Nidhi.

But the government’s plan to push through the bill, which includes a proposal to redraw the boundaries of Provinces 4 and 5, could invite controversies later, leaders say. The court reminded the parties of Article 274 (4), which states that consent of the concerned provincial assembly is required for changing the boundaries.

NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said the court had left space for it to intervene in such a case.

The UML argues that the court verdict proves its claim that the government’s proposal to alter the delineation of provinces is “unconstitutional”. NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba maintains that the issue of changing the boundaries is not as complicated as interpreted since the provincial assemblies do not exist.