'Nepal's Constitution in a year after NC-led govt formed'

The Nepali Congress, which emerged as the largest party in recent polls, today pledged it would finalise Nepal's new Constitution within a year of forming government.
NC general secretary Prakash Man Singh said the government will be formed under his party's leadership as it secured the first position in the November 19 election by winning 196 seats in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.
Singh said the NC is committed to draft a new Constitution within a year of forming the government in order to institutionalise the achievements of the peoples' movement of 2006, including federalism and republican system.
The NC will try to form a consensus government by forging a general agreement among all political parties. If there is no consensus among the parties, the NC will try to form a "strong majority government", Singh said.

"We will then conduct the local body elections within six months," he said while inaugurating NC's new regional office in the Kathmandu constituency from which he was elected.
He rejected the CPN-UML's demand for conducting an election to choose a new president and vice-president.

"Drafting a new constitution is our priority rather than electing a new president. There is no provision of electing a new president in the Interim Constitution before the new constitution is promulgated," he said.
Singh also said the Unified CPN-Maoist led by former premier Prachanda could not escape the responsibility of completing the peace process though the party was reduced to third position in the polls.

"The UCPN-Maoist needs to play a key role in taking the peace process to the logical conclusion," he said.
Singh rejected the Maoists' demand to form a commission to inquire into alleged irregularities in the polls. The elections were held in a free, fair and fearless manner which was also accepted by top Maoist leaders, he said.
"The UCPN-Maoist's grievances regarding the elections can be addressed from within the Constituent Assembly by forming a Constituent Assembly court," he added.