Kathmandu, July 9 : The Madhesi parties of southern Nepal have said they would study the latest supplementary bill on Constitution amendment registered by the government at the Constituent Assembly (CA) secretariat today.

The three Madhesi parties, including the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), the Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP,) are holding a meeting ahead of scheduled Constituent Assembly meeting.

“We needed time to study the supplementary bill. That is why the Constituent Assembly was suspended on Tuesday,” said Rajendra Mahato, president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP).

Sarbendra Nath Shukla, leader of Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP), said that though the bill fell short of their expectation, it would pave the way for the Constituent Assembly process to proceed. 

Earlier, the seven parties had prepared a draft of the supplementary bill proposing changes in the Article 138 of the interim constitution.

The agreement states that the Nepal will be a federal democratic republic by upholding the aspirations of autonomous provinces of Madhesis, indigenous people and people from backward and other regions.

The agreement added that the detailed definition regarding such provinces would be determined by the Constituent Assembly.

Regarding the demand for group entry of Madhesis in the Nepal Army, the agreement says that the army will be made inclusive on the basis of principle of equality and inclusion. 

However seven-party leaders have expressed confidence that the Constituent Assembly will function normally from today.

"We believe this agreement will help to end the deadlock. We''ve held several rounds of discussion with Madhesi parties and now we are confident that the Assembly will not be stalled again," CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal said. 

Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ''Prachanda'' said the fresh amendment bill will pave way for the formation of a new government.

"We will try to get the support from all the political parties and I wish the Nepali Congress too will join the government," Prachanda said, adding that no party will sit in the opposition in the Constituent Assembly as its main task is to write the constitution, Nepalnews reported. (ANI)