The Nepali Congress has decided to support the proposal of Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nembang to fast-track the constitution writing process by amending the CA rules of procedure.

A meeting of the party office bearers on Wednesday decided to extend support to the proposal to ensure constitution promulgation by January 22. Nembang is due to table the proposal on Thursday reports e-Kantipur online.

The NC decision comes prior to the talks scheduled between Nembang and top leaders of the major political parties regarding the way forward from the stalled constitution drafting process.

Nembang has called a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Thursday, which can allow the CA to put the disputed issues to vote but there should be consensus among the parties. He is likely to present a blueprint for speeding up constitution writing. Nembang will suggest the parties that the new constitution could be drafted by the January 22 deadline, suspending some provisions of the rules of procedure, and if there is no consensus the parties should agree to voting. Nembang will urge the top leaders to go for voting, if there is no consensus.

“We have decided to support Nembang’s proposal. The meeting also decided to keep the door for consensus open,” said NC Joint Secretary General Purna Bahadur Khadka. Prime Minister and NC President Sushil Koirala, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa and senior leaders of Madhes-based parties have been invited to the meeting.

The NC meeting held at the PM residence in Baluwatar also decided to ask Nembang to follow the due process if the parties fail to sort their differences.