In the end, the Constituent Assembly was unable to promulgate the constitution on the scheduled date. During the last Constituent Assembly elections, the main parties had committed to the people to promulgate the constitution within one year. To fulfil that commitment, the Constituent Assembly had prepared a one-year timetable to promulgate the constitution by January 22. However, there could not be consensus between the ruling coalition and the opposition, and the constitution could not be promulgated despite anxious waiting of national and international community. Neither was there any momentum on following the procedures as desired by the ruling coalition nor was there any agreement on the disputed issues of the constitution as demanded by the opposition.1 Instead of forging consensus on the disputed issues and seeking new agreements to promulgate the constitution, the political parties attacked each other. The deepening rift between the ruling coalition and the opposition brought uncertainty to promulgating the constitution, and this led to protracted political transition in Nepal.

Security tightened
The Constituent Assembly meeting on the parties’ committed date to promulgate the constitution, January 22, was called at 11 AM. Security was tighter than before. The Constituent Assembly members were in the process of entering the Constituent Assembly building to participate in the meeting. During that time, 10 packets of chilli powder was found in the Constituent Assembly building. According to the police, the chilli powder was found in the office of the vice-chairperson Onsari Gharti Magar.2 Then security was tightened very severely. The Constituent Assembly members were not let in the hall on presentation of badge alone but needed identity cards as well. The Constituent Assembly members were not even allowed to take bags inside.3 Microphones from the opposition benches were also removed.

Then UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leader Baburam Bhattarai, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik chairperson Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar, and other leaders met Constituent Assembly chairperson Subash Chandra Nemwang and objected that the Constituent Assembly was being turned into a barrack. Fearing that in addition to the obstruction, the opposition parties could engage in other activities as well, security was tightened compared to before within and outside the Constituent Assembly. Four rings of security were stationed in front of the chairperson’s seat. Additional 150 security personnel were inside the Constituent Assembly hall and another 600 were mobilised around Naya Baneshwor. Barbed wire fences were put in many places.5 To counter the possibility of any noisy demonstrations, a security cordon was also stationed at the exit for the Constituent Assembly members.