Kathmandu, April 11
Nepal’s government on Tuesday registered a ‘watered-down’ version of a five-month-old constitution amendment bill in the hope that the opposition will vote in its favour and the Madeshi Morcha will agree to contest the elections.
The government withdrew the bill it registered in Parliament in November, and presented a fresh one, removing a proposal to re-draw provincial boundaries. If the amendment is passed, the government can set-up a commission to look into the number of provinces and their boundaries.
Similarly, the passage of the amendment will pave the way for the removal of chiefs of local bodies and their deputies the electoral college that will elect members of the National Assembly.
The government has also proposed a revision of Article 274 of the constitution to allow the federal Parliament to exercise the power of the provincial assemblies in their absence.
The government hopes that the amendment will get the backing of the Madeshi Morcha and the opposition will not resort to protests over it.
