Sitaula's Press Meet: From Congress Convention to Constitution Amendment

Kathmandu – Nepali Congress leader in the National Assembly, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, shared his views on six key issues during a press interaction on Sunday. Speaking at a hotel in the capital, Sitaula emphasized the need to form a task force for constitutional amendments.

Constitution Amendment Process
Sitaula stated, "The Congress Central Committee has already decided. A task force must be formed for constitutional amendments, and the Congress should take the initiative." However, he noted that no formal discussions have taken place between political parties, including the main opposition and even between the Congress and CPN-UML.

Constitutional Council Bill Controversy
Regarding the Constitutional Council (Functions, Duties, Powers, and Procedures) (First Amendment) Bill, 2079, which President Ram Chandra Paudel sent back, Sitaula clarified that the President has the constitutional right to return a bill once. "Now, discussions will be held in the House of Representatives and National Assembly on how to proceed," he said.

Decision-Making in Constitutional Council
Sitaula explained the bill's provisions, stating that the Constitutional Council must first attempt unanimous decisions. If unanimity fails, a majority of present members can decide. He highlighted concerns about quorum issues, especially when key positions like the opposition leader or House Speaker are vacant during elections.

Federal Civil Service Bill
Sitaula mentioned that even if the National Assembly returns the Federal Civil Service Bill, the House of Representatives can amend and resend it to the President for authentication.

Performance of Current Government
Criticizing the KP Sharma Oli-led all-party government (including Congress), Sitaula said it has failed to meet public expectations. However, he admitted no alternative exists, predicting the government will continue until the 2084 elections.

Congress Mahasamiti Convention
Sitaula confirmed the party’s Mahasamiti convention will be held around Dashain 2083 (2026), ruling out further delays. "Active member renewal ends by Ashwin; the convention must conclude by Mangsir 2083," he asserted.

Bagmati Province Parliamentary Dispute
On internal party disputes in Bagmati Province, Sitaula urged the provincial parliamentary team to resolve conflicts, failing which party president Sher Bahadur Deuba should intervene.

"Seven Brothers" Meetings
Sitaula revealed that recent meetings of former office-bearers ("Saat Bhai") focused on three topics: national politics, Mahasamiti coordination, and internal party affairs.

When asked about the fate of teams from the 13th and 14th Congress conventions, Sitaula tactfully replied, "We’ll see when the convention arrives."