Second Constituent Assembly of Nepal (2014–2017)
The Second Constituent Assembly of Nepal, later converted to the Legislature Parliament (Nepali: व्यवस्थापिका संसद), was a unicameral legislature of Nepal.[1] It was elected in the 2013 Constituent Assembly elections after the failure of the first Constituent Assembly to promulgate a new constitution.[2] The Assembly converted into a legislative parliament after the constitution was promulgated in 2015. The legislature parliament's term ended on 14 October 2017.[3]
Opening
Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa, the oldest member of the house, assumed chairmanship of the CA on January 20, 2014[4] and administered the oath of office to 565 lawmakers at the first meeting of the assembly on January 21, 2014.[5] Leaders of the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) pledged to draft a new constitution within a year.[6] More than 80% of the members were new faces.[7]
Power-sharing discussions
On January 26, 2014, President Ram Baran Yadav called for the election of a Prime Minister and the formation of a consensus government within a week[8] as per article 38(1) of the constitution which provided for the formation of government through political understanding.[9] The Nepali Congress obtained the support of the CPN-UML for a NC-led consensus government[10] and the two parties also agreed to hold local body elections within six months and adopt a new constitution within a year.[11] An all-party meeting followed at which the CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and MPRF-Loktantrik expressed support for a government under Sushil Koirala. The RPP-N boycotted the meeting.[12] Further discussions were held between the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) at which the Maoists expressed support for the idea of a NC-led government but did not agree to join the government and decided to stay in opposition.[13] On February 2, 2014, the NC abandoned its pursuit of a consensus government under article 38(1) of the constitution after the UCPN (Maoist) and RPP-N, the third and fourth largest parties, decided not to join the government. The party then initiated talks with the CPN-UML to form a majority government under article 38(2) of the constitution.[14][15]
Composition
A total of thirty political parties and two independents were represented at the start of the second constituent assembly. However, some parties later merged and the number of parties declined.[16][17]
Committees
The following parliamentary committees were formed:[23]
- State Affairs Committee
- Public Accounts Committee
- Environment Protection Committee
- International Relations and Labour Committee
- Legislation Committee
- Good Governance and Monitoring Committee
- Industry Commerce and Consumer Welfare Committee
- Women, Children, Senior Citizen and Social Welfare Committee
- Development Committee
- Agriculture and Water Resources Committee
- Finance Committee
- Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee
