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 MinisterSurya 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, PresidentRam 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]
^"Prez gives parties a week to form new govt". MyRepublica. 26 January 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2014."Article 38 (1) states, 'The Council of Ministers shall be formed under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, on the basis of political understanding.'... Article 38 (2) states,' Failing to forge an understanding as referred to in clause (1), the Prime Minister shall be elected by a majority of the total number of the then members of the Legislature-Parliament'."
^"UML ready to support Koirala". eKantipur. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2014.'Singh further informed that the discussions between the two parties, held right after the second meeting of Legislature Parliament, culminated with the resolution on holding the local body election within six months and promulgating the constitution within a year. "Both the parties have agreed to hold the local body election within six months," Singh said, "A consensus has also been reached to draft the new constitution within one year."'
