This is the final draft of the new constitution including 37 parts, 302 articles and 9 annexes. The draft was tabled by the CA Constitution Drafting Committee before the CA plenary on August 23 and then three days were allocated for CA members to study the same.

The deliberations over the next three days will take place for 11 hours every day from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, according to CA Chairman Subas Nembang. Every CA member expressing their views on the final draft will be awarded five minutes to do the same. There are presently 598 members in the CA.

Seeking time at the beginning of today’s meeting, leader of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Ashok Rai said his party has been expressing its disagreement with the ongoing constitution writing process, which, he said, was without the soul of federalism. “The existing unitary system of governance has just been covered up by the tag of federalism”, he said.

Following the statement, CA member Rai left the CA hall declaring that his party has boycotted the meeting.

Prior to this, Chairperson of Constitution Drafting Committee Krishna Prasad Sitoula tabled a proposal seeking consideration on the amended bill relating to the Constitution of Nepal, 2072.

On the occasion, CDC Chair Sitoula appealed to all CA members to not leave the CA but contribute to finalizing the new constitution. “As it is the constitution of the country and people, we as CA members must fulfill our pledges to give them a new constitution”, he said. RSS