Kathmandu: General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Kumar Thapa, has emphasized that amending the constitution is a necessary step to address the significant challenges facing the current political system, rather than being merely a luxury or an optional measure.
According to National News Agency Nepal, during a talk program organized by the Local Leadership Development Forum on ‘A decade of federalism: A review and way ahead,’ Thapa highlighted the need for major political parties to undertake the risks associated with amending the constitution. This step is crucial for rectifying the flaws observed in the implementation of federalism, the electoral system, and governance. Thapa underscored the importance of having a clear structure and defined rights across the three tiers of government, pointing out that the constitution amendment was part of the seven-point agreement signed between the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) prior to the formation of the current government.
On the same occasion, Chief Whip of NC, Shyam Kumar Ghimire, acknowledged that the implementation of federalism has not progressed as expected over the past decade, attributing this shortfall to impractical provisions within the constitution. Ghimire argued that despite several positive initiatives, issues of bad governance have adversely affected democracy and the constitution.
Chief Whip of CPN UML, Mahesh Bartaula, remarked that the present government’s foundation is built on the strengthening of federalism through its effective enforcement. He expressed confidence that once political federalism is effectively implemented, the administrative and fiscal aspects would naturally follow suit. However, Bartaula cautioned against entertaining unnecessary issues during the amendment process that could lead to polarization within the country.
Member of the National Assembly, Gopi Bahadur Sharki Achhami, noted that fiscal and administrative federalism remain weaker compared to political federalism. Madan Kumari Sah (Garima) echoed similar sentiments, admitting that the process of law-making has not progressed as anticipated.
Forum’s Chairman, Bansalal Tamang, advised that the experiences of local levels should be taken into account when considering amendments to the constitution.