Kathmandu, May 27:

Finally, the term of the historic Constituent Assembly elected originally for two years in April 2008 expired at Sunday midnight as it could not announce the new constitution.

With the dissolution of the 601-member jumbo CA, people’s hope to get the new constitution got shattered.

The four years’ political exercise and the huge fund spent in drafting the new constitution turned waste due to incapability of the leaders.

The hectic exercises of the leaders of the past three days to promulgate even a preliminary draft of the statute by Sunday midnight yielded no outcome due to differences on the models and names of federal provinces.

When UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" the architect of the CA, predicted its inability to accomplish the historic tasks two and half hours before its expiry, the parties tried to find alternatives to address the situation that might arise after the dissolution of the CA.

However, they also failed to reach any agreement forcing the government to announce fresh elections of the CA on 22 November.

Moreover, the CA and the Legislature Parliament was dissolved without holding the meeting scheduled for Sunday.

The CA members, who were eagerly waiting for the assumption of the scheduled meeting, deserted it a hour before its expiry.

When all efforts to promulgate the constitution did not work, an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to go for fresh election although Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel and Minister Parsuram Khapung opposed the decision and decided to quit the government.

Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai apprised President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav of the government decision to hold the fresh elections to the CA on 22 November.

However, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML strongly opposed the decision of the government terming it unconstitutional. They said the decision was taken without their agreement.

The NC and UML leaders also reached Shital Niwas to meet the President following the government decision.

NC vice president Ramchandra Poudel said that his party would not accept the decision on elections and warned of a strong movement against it.

UML vice chairman Bam Dev Gautam termed the announcement of elections unconstitutional and said that his party would reject it.

Minister Khapung said that he would quit the government alleging that the decision was taken unilaterally.

Co-chairman of Rastriya Janashakti party Dr. Prakash Chnadra Lohani said that the election announcement was unconstitutional.

The term of the CA was extended four times-a year once, three months twice and six months once.

Meanwhile, CA chairman Subas Nembang expressed his concerns about the dissolution of the elected bodies.

Talking to reporters, he said that he worried whether the country would plunge into crisis and the dictators emerge.

He also urged the parties to move ahead learning from their past mistakes.

According to him, the leaders shout have turned the CA into a parliament to avoid the problems.

"Way out was possible but the leaders did not try to find it," he said.

Meanwhile, Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairperson Subas Nembang has said that he was saddened for no promulgation of constitution through the Constituent Assembly (CA) as per the aspiration of Nepali people.

‘I beg apology that constitution was not promulgated due to no consensus among parties at the final hour’, Nembang said.

Talking to journalists at own office after the Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to announce the date for the fresh elections to the CA, he further said he had frequently held discussions with the parties to protect the process but it was all in vain and the situation emerged in to the dissolution of the CA.

He asked the parties to remain cautious towards the emergence of autocracy
in the absence of people elected body, he called on parties to show prudence to steer the country to peace.