KATHMANDU: General Secretary of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), Gagan Thapa, emphasized on Thursday that amending the constitution is not a matter of choice or luxury, but a necessary step to resolve the pressing challenges confronting the country’s political system.
Speaking at a talk program organized by the Local Leadership Development Forum on the theme “A Decade of Federalism: A Review and the Way Forward”, Thapa stated that major political parties must be willing to take bold steps — even at political risk — to amend the constitution.
He highlighted the need to address flaws in the implementation of federalism, the electoral system, and governance.
Thapa also stressed the importance of clear delineation of powers and responsibilities among the three tiers of government. He reminded attendees that constitution amendment is included in the seven-point agreement signed between the NC and CPN-UML during the formation of the current coalition government.
Speaking at the same event, NC Chief Whip Shyam Kumar Ghimire acknowledged that the implementation of federalism has not progressed as expected over the past decade. He attributed this to impractical provisions within the constitution.
“Despite several positive steps, weak governance has undermined both democracy and the constitution,” Ghimire said.
CPN-UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula stated that the foundation of the current government lies in strengthening federalism through effective implementation. He asserted that robust administrative and fiscal federalism would naturally follow the successful functioning of political federalism.
However, he cautioned against raising unnecessary issues during the amendment process that could lead to national polarization.
National Assembly member Gopi Bahadur Sharki Achhami pointed out that administrative and fiscal aspects of federalism remain weaker compared to political federalism.
Similarly, lawmaker Madan Kumari Sah (Garima) admitted that the legislative process has not moved forward at the expected pace.
Chairman of the Forum, Bansalal Tamang, emphasized the importance of incorporating the experiences of local governments while pursuing constitutional amendments.
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