A meeting of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC)  of eight parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and Madhesh-based parties on Tuesday afternoon signed a  four-point agreement to pave way for the formation of Constituent Assembly. The meeting also decided to request a five-day extension to the Election Commission on its deadline for submission of names for the proportional representation seats.

“The parties have reached a four point deal,” said CPN-UML leader Raghuji Pant, after the meeting. “The parties have been busy in discussions, so we will request the EC to extend its PR deadline until 30 December.”

The four agreements are:

• UCPN (Maoist) has agreed to investigate vote rigging through a parliamentary commission formed from the Constituent Assembly

• The parties have decided to continue a HLPC, including the parties that form the Constituent Assembly

• The parties have committed to formulate the new constitution within a year

• The parties have agreed to form the Truth and Reconciliation Committee to conclude the peace process.

The agreement opens doors for the UCPN (Maoists), and 17 other parties to submit their names in the proportional representation category. “We had never denied to participate in the CA,” said UCPN (M) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “We had a few concerns and now they have been addressed.”

The parties have requested the Election Commission for a third extension to the deadline to submit names of PR seats by 30 December. The commission’s second extension ends on 25 December 2013.