UCPN (M), Nepali Congress, and CPN (UML) could not agree on whether peace and constitution-drafting process should proceed together or the peace process should be concluded first. Congress and UML insisted that the peace process should be concluded first, while UCPN (M) proposed that the peace and constitution-drafting process should be taken forward together. The dispute in the peace and constitution-drafting process shadowed the discussion being held on the form of government in the dispute resolution sub-committee of the Constitutional Committee, and its meeting was adjourned.

The Constitutional Committee held a meeting to discuss the disputed issues and it gave the responsibility of resolving these issues to UCPN (M), Congress, and UML because consensus among the big three parties would make it easier to seek consensus from other parties.

As there was confusion about the peace process and constitution-drafting, a meeting of UCPN (M), Congress, and UML was held at the prime minister’s quarters in Baluwatar. The meeting decided to give the responsibility of resolving the disputed issues to the top leaders of the three parties.

The members of the dispute resolution sub-committee are UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel, UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, CPN (United) leader Kalpana Rana, and Nepal Sadbhawana Party leader Laxmanlal Karna. There is a provision for these members to call their aides and other party leaders as invited members to the meetings. These members are also in the Constitutional Committee. Except for Nepali Congress, all the top leaders of other parties are members in the Constitutional Committee. Yet, the meeting of UCPN (M), Congress, and UML decided to give the responsibility of resolving the disputes to the top leaders of these parties.

Then, UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress president Sushil Koirala, and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal held a meeting at Dahal’s residence in Lazimpat to discussion the peace process and constitution-drafting. They divided the responsibility to bring proposals on disputed issues to make it easier to reach consensus. UCPN (M) chairperson Dahal was responsible for peace process and army integration, Congress president Koirala for formation of commissions, and UML senior leader Nepal for bringing a common proposal for consensus on the issues of the constitution.

As there was no environment to hold extensive discussion on the disputed issues as per the calendar of events, a meeting of the business advisory committee was held. The meeting on February 23 decided to give additional 10 days to the Constitutional Committee to resolve the disputes.

In the meantime, the political parties became focused on army integration. The Nepal Army issued a statement that the Maoist combatants can be given the rank of up to major, while UCPN (M) held its ground that the rank of brigadier general should be given. Congress and UML united in insisting that army integration should not go beyond the 7-point agreement. UCPN (M), Congress, and UML, who had been speaking in favour and against the Army statement, agreed not to drag the Army into controversy. The meeting of the regional General Commanding Officers also discussed the integration issue, where Chief of the Army Staff stated that the Nepal Army should contribute towards army integration.

The leaders of UCPN (M), Congress, and UML held separate meetings regarding the peace process and constitution-drafting. During these meeting, they did not give priority to the formation of a national consensus government which they had been doing previously. At the same time, the Supreme Court convicted the Minister for Information and Communication Jaya Prakash Gupta of corruption and fined him one crore 68 lakhs and jailed him for one and half years. The minister Gupta announced his resignation though the media. The parliament secretariat announced the seat of Gupta as void.

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