Kathmandu: Nepal’s ruling parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist–Leninist (CPN-UML), have established a joint mechanism to enhance the systematic functioning and effectiveness of the country’s three-tier government system, according to their statement.
The decision to create the mechanism was made during a meeting between the two parties on October 31, 2024. It was agreed that the mechanism would be led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of CPN-UML and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, said the secretariat of the mechanism.
The mechanism’s working committee consists of eight members—four from each party. Members from CPN-UML include Senior Vice-Chair Ishwor Pokharel, Vice-Chair and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel, General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel, and Deputy General Secretary and Political Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Rimal. From the Nepali Congress, the committee includes Vice President Purna Bahadur Khadka, General Secretary Gagan Thapa, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.
Additionally, the newly formed mechanism will be expanded at the provincial and district levels. In the provinces, a three-member team will be appointed, while at the district level, a two-member team will be established, according to Keshav Raj Joshi, secretary of the mechanism’s secretariat.
The coalition government under CPN-UML’s leadership was formed after a seven-point agreement between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on July 1, 2024. This agreement led to the ousting of Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s government (which was supported by UML) on July 12, 2024.
While both parties agreed to collaborate with the aim of amending the constitution, no significant progress has been made so far. The leaders of both parties had previously claimed that an agreement was reached to establish a Constitution Amendment Recommendation Committee under the leadership of former Chief Justice Kalyan Shrestha to recommend constitutional changes, including reforms to the election system. However, the coalition government has yet to make any substantial progress on this issue.
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