Leaders put their signature in the interim constitution

Following the overnight discussion in Baluwatar, the top political leaders have put their signature in the interim constitution.

After over seventeen hours of marathon talks, the leaders finally reached to common understanding over contentious provisions of the interim constitution.

The interim constitution has 169 articles. It will be formally promulgated once the arms management of the Maoist is completed.

According to reports, in the interim constitution the Prime Minister is authorized to use all the powers hitherto exercised by the King. "All powers related to rule or administration will now be exercised by the Prime Minister," said Bharat Mohan Adhikary, standing committee member of the Unified Marxist Leninist this morning.

Likewise, Adhikary added that right to education, employment and health will be recognized as basic rights. The interim constitution has not altered the status of Cow as national animal. Two ballot papers will be used in the Constituent Assembly in consultation with the Election Commission.

The talks had started at around 3 pm in the afternoon on Friday and it went throughout the night. All top leaders of eight parties were present in the discussion. There were series of formal and informal meetings among the political leaders. And finally they sealed the deal in the morning on Saturday on Poush 1 – the same day when King Mahendra had promulgated the Panchayati constitution back in 1962.