A little more than two weeks after the extension of the constituent assembly hopes for a substantive progress in the peace process and the constitution making are fast fading.


The agreement on a time-table of disarming the former combatants and the drafting of the constitution has not moved beyond the documents the three major parties inked them soon after the dying CA was given a three-month oxygen.


Not unexpectedly, Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai lamented that the past two weeks had been “wasted.”


The main opposition Nepali Congress went one step ahead and almost concluded that the next few weeks are also unlikely to be any different.


The crucial conclave of the district committee presidents at the tourist city of Dhulikhel set the stage clear for what the party sees inevitable: neither the conclusion of the peace process nor making of the constitution.


From the party president Sushil Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba to district presidents and central committee members, all were in agreement – on the need to prepare for the uncertainty and confusion post the extended life of the CA.


The central leaders called upon the district leaders to prepare for “a mass movement” to “safeguard democracy”.


The latter echoed the concerns and vowed to remain vigilant.


With the Maoist leadership deeply divided on what has been agreed with the other parties including the Nepali Congress, the main opposition has little trust in the Maoists to disarm themselves ahead of the constitution.  


Without seeing the former rebel outfit disarmed, the Nepali Congress does not want to lend a hand in making what it fears would be a “totalitarian” leaning constitution.