Despite talks, both ruling coalition and opposition parties were not certain of reaching a consensus. Therefore, they followed their own strategies. The opposition parties were in favour of letting the deadline elapse, but the ruling coalition was in favour of entering the procedural phase as soon as possible. This led to a long list of speakers from the opposition parties for the Constituent Assembly meeting called at 8:30 in the morning without a single speaker scheduled  from  the  ruling  coalition.  In the  Constituent  Assembly  meeting,  55 Constituent Assembly members from the opposition commented on the report of the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee. Most of the speakers spent their time on criticising the ruling coalition rather on the agenda; UCPN (M) Constituent Assembly members were very fierce in their criticisms.

UCPN (M) leader Janardan Sharma warned of tearing up the Comprehensive Peace Accords. Another UCPN (M) leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara warned that moving forward by force might lead to end of democracy. While the opposition Constituent Assembly members were putting their views, most of the Constituent Assembly members from the ruling coalition were outside the Constituent Assembly hall in the sun.1 Ruling coalition Constituent Assembly members did not put their views to enter the procedural phase quickly because they were choosing the strategy of following the procedures and of endorsing the 9-point concept and sending it to Constitution-drafting Committee. However, Constituent Assembly chairperson Subash Nemwang extended the discussions on the report of the Dialogue Committee by another day in the hope that parties would forge a consensus. He indicated that he had decided to wait until Monday as the parties close to him were nearing an agreement.

No Consensus
To seek consensus, Constituent Assembly chairperson Nemwang held bilateral and multilateral talks with Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), UCPN (M), and Tarai-Madhes-centred political parties. The major parties held a meeting, which Nemwang attended. After the talks,  leaders  expressed  the  possibility  that  there  might  be  consensus  the  next  day. Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel stated that the talks were positive but he would not say anything until there is an agreement. Senior UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal was unspecific. He said the talks were going good and expressed the belief that there would be agreement the next day. Stating that the gap between the parties on federalism was narrowing, chairperson of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik stated, ‘There has not been  consensus  on  the  other  three  issues  (form  of  governance,  elections  system,  and judicial system). We are closer on federalism. We will not hold on to our positions. We called for 10 states but we are ready to agree to six, seven, eight, or nine states. Those calling for seven states are also flexible’.

Pressure Continues
While the discussions were going on among the main parties on the issues to be included in the constitution, there was continuous pressure on the party leaderships and the Constituent Assembly. When the leaders were discussing on direct elections to the Lower House, UML held discussion with Janajati Constituent Assembly members; they suggested the party leadership to retain the present election system.

RPP-Nepal in the meantime staged protests outside the Constituent Assembly hall demanding a Hindu state and other provisions in the constitution. RPP-Nepal chairperson Kamal Thapa warned that if the constitution was not promulgated as committed to the people, the major leaders would face further humiliation.9  In the protest, after RPP-Nepal tried to enter the restricted zones, there was scuffle with the police. Tarun Dal Nepal staged a protest in Babarmahal. Press Chautari Nepal, Mahila Manav Adhikar Rakshak Nepal, Dalit Nagarik Samaj  staged a sit-in in Naya Baneshwor to exert pressure to promulgate the constitution on January 22. Parties demanded guarantee of 10 per cent representation of Dalits in the centre and states in the new constitution.