Nepal Highlights

Nilambar Acharya, a CA member nominated by Nepali Congress, has been elected chairman of the Constitutional Committee of the Constituent Assembly Friday afternoon. Acharya defeated his opponent Narayan Kaji Shrestha of the Unified CPN (Maoist) by eight votes. Out of 50 votes cast in the election Acharya secured 29 votes, while Shrestha secured 21 votes. Some political parties including Terai Mades Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party boycotted the elections saying the constitution drafting could not complete without a consensus in the CC. Elections were held after long efforts of the three largest parties in the Constituent Assembly failed to reach consensus on a common candidate. Acharya was also involved in drafting the interim constitution.

Election for the post of chairman of the Constitutional Committee of the Constituent Assembly is taking place Friday afternoon. Nilamber Acharya from Nepali Congress and Narayan Kaji Shrestha from the Unified CPN (Maoist) are contesting for the post. The election are held after the three largest parties in the constituent assembly failed to reach consensus on a common candidate. The election earlier scheduled for August 17 was postponed by CA chairman Subas Chandra Nemwang for today after parties asked time to find a common candidate. Earlier, the Maoists had said they would field Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai for the post. However, they changed the decision at the last moment. The position of CC chairman has been vacant since the erstwhile chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal got elected to the post of Prime Minister in May. The process of constitution drafting has been adversely affected due to the delay in selectin gthe chairman of the major committee of the CA.