Kathmandu, Dec 16:

Executive Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, ‘Prachanda’ is involved in discussions with Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli since Sharma Oli did not attend the standing committee meeting, earlier. In the one-on-one meeting between Oli and Dahal, no any agreement was made, and therefore, the meeting resumed without the presence of KP Oli after some time.

Secretary-General Bishnu Poudel is also said to be participating in the discussion. Earlier, Standing Committee member Shankar Pokharel had reached Dahal’s residence in Khumaltar and managed to hold a meeting between the two chairpersons.

A meeting, among Dahal, senior leaders Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhala Nath Khanal, Bamdev Gautam, and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, was held in Khumaltar after the ordinance had been issued, on Tuesday. They have warned to take stern action against the decision of Oli, if the ordinance is not revoked immediately. The cabinet meeting of the ’emergency’ had brought a new ordinance after the meeting convened twice yesterday . It is an attempt of PM Oli to fulfill the vacancy in the Constitutional Council.

Nepal’s politics has taken a new turn with the issuance of the Constitutional Council (First Amendment Ordinance on Work, Duties and Procedure, 2077) by the President.

Earlier, there was a legal provision that a meeting of the Constitutional Council could be held only when four members other than the chairperson were present. Modifying this provision the ordinance stipulates that the majority of the members, including the chairperson, should be present. The ordinance has already been published in Nepal Gazette (Nepal Rajpattra). Moreover, if there is the presence of the Prime Minister with two other members, there will be no legal impairment to meet and make the decision.

Therefore, the meeting can be held even in the absence of Speaker Sapkota and Leader of the Main Opposition party Sher Bahadur Deuba. Now, there is a vacancy in Deputy Speaker’s position. There should be six- council members including the chairperson according to the constitutional provision. Currently, there are 5 members in the council. Now according to the new amendment, majority is accepted if there are people, including the chairperson, are present.The meeting Constitutional Council is underway this evening. It is for sure Deuba will also be absent from the meeting since the ordinance is issued.

Advocate Omprakash Aryal has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the new ordinance.