A and the opposition parties were growing apart, ruling coalition Constituent Assembly members started a signature campaign to pressure for promulgating the constitution on January 22. The campaign stressed on following the procedures if there was no consensus; it garnered signatures from 414 Constituent Assembly members. These Constituent Assembly members focused on the campaign to draft the constitution submitted their signatures to the Constituent Assembly chairperson Subash Chandra Nemwang. Expressing their concern that attempts to forge a consensus might lengthen the process indefinitely, they urged the Constituent Assembly chairperson to move the process forward.1

The letter submitted to the Constituent Assembly chairperson demanding promulgation of the constitution was signed by Constituent Assembly members from Congress, UML, RPP, CPN (ML), Rastriya Janamorcha, CPN (United), Nepal Pariwar Dal, Bahujan Shakti Party, Nepal Janata Dal, Akhanda Nepal Party, Janajagaran Party Nepal among other parties. But the senior leaders of both Congress and UML had not signed the letter. The Constituent Assembly members stated that they were not made to sign it as they are in the process of seeking a consensus. Constituent Assembly chairperson appeared to be encouraged after the urging of the Constituent Assembly members. He stated that this campaign might help to move forward.

Claims of Consensus
A meeting of Congress, UML, UCPN (M), and Madhes-centred parties was called to seek consensus. Despite discussions on the disputed issues of the constitution, there was no consensus. Leaders participating in the discussion claimed that the meeting focused on moving ahead through consensus and of finding and nearing consensus on some issues.2 Then the parties discussed on ways to move forward, but there was no agreement. UML chairperson KP Sharma Oli accused UCPN (M) of using the strategy of not seeking a consensus and not following the procedures as well.3

Differences in the Constituent Assembly
Discussion began in the Constituent Assembly on the report of the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee. Congress and UML Constituent Assembly members stressed on following the procedures if there was no consensus. Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel stressed on going to the Drafting Committee immediately as the procedures cannot be stopped. He said that draft will be prepared at the same time attempts at consensus can be continued. Similarly, senior UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal, stating that there was no consensus despite sending the disputed issues to the Dialogue Committee, said that the disputed issues should be concluded through a democratic process.4 UCPN (M) Constituent Assembly member Agni Sapkota warned of
countering if two-thirds majority was forcibly used. While only one member of the ruling coalition spoke during the Constituent Assembly meeting, many members from the opposition parties registered their names as speakers. Constituent Assembly members from UCPN (M) and other opposition parties registered their names in an attempt to lengthen the discussions on the report of the Dialogue Committee and to block the voting process in the Constituent Assembly.