Constitution panel suggests carving of Nepal into 14 states

From a stateless country comprising 75 small districts, Nepal will soon reshape into a group of states.

From a stateless country comprising 75 small districts, Nepal will soon reshape into a group of states. And a constitution panel has suggested that the Himalayan nation be carved into 14 federal units.

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On Wednesday, the Constituent Assembly Committee on State Restructuring and Distribution of State Power presented the revised model to a full of house of Constituent Assembly.

Nepal is in the process of drafting a new constitution before May 28 this year. The report on formation of states was the last one submitted to the constituent assembly.

A sub-committee had earlier submitted two separate models—one consisting 6 states and other 14. But majority of the 43 members of the restructuring committee voted in favour of the latter model.

As per the committee’s recommendation, the 14 states shaped on basis of ethnic identity would give special rights to members of the largest community or ethnic group in comparison to others.

The Maoist proposed provision states that preference for important posts like chief minister be given to the largest community for two terms and other groups will not get these posts even by free competition.

The move has been opposed by members from the ruling Nepali Congress and other non-Maoist groups as being undemocratic while the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) is divided over the provision.