Major parties reach agreement on key issues for Nepal’s future

The top leadership of the three major political parties in Nepal have come to a consensus on a range of significant issues, such as parliamentary committees and bills related to transitional justice and the Constitutional Council.

At a meeting convened at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singha Durbar on Monday, the leading figures of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Center) have come to a consensus regarding the appointment of heads of various parliamentary committees. Additionally, they have decided to proceed with the bill on Constitutional Council while also agreeing to deliberate upon the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) bill in a special committee.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli, UML parliamentary party deputy-leader Subash Nembang, NC chief whip Ramesh Lekhak and Maoist Centre’s chief whip Hitraj Pandey were present in the meeting.

During the meeting, an agreement was reached where NC will take charge of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee and UML will lead the Committee responsible for monitoring and implementing the Directive Principles, Policies and Obligations of the State. Additionally, UML will be in charge of the Public Accounts Committee as well as one of the ten thematic committees of the House of Representatives, as per the agreement.

In addition, there has been an agreement to pass the bill on Constitutional Council through parliament. Furthermore, the leaders have reached an accord to establish a 15-member special committee on TRC, and to move the related bill through the committee after holding discussions.