Nepal’s former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai is set to take the leadership of political dialogue and consensus committee (PDCC), a powerful committee on Nepal’s constitution drafting process.

Bhattarai, who is a senior leader of Nepal’s main opposition party United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), registered his candidacy on Thursday for the election of the PDCC which was scheduled to be held yesterday, Xinhua reported.

Bhattarai is expected to emerge victorious as the two largest parties, Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML), have promised to back him.

After nominating his candidacy, Bhattarai said he would make utmost effort to promulgate a new constitution within a year.

“I will hold talks with all parties inside and outside the constitution assembly and forge a consensus on contentious issues,” Xinhua quoted Bhattarai as saying.

The previous constituent assembly was dissolved on May 27, 2012, when Bhattarai was the prime minister of the country.

The PDRC is mandated to hold talks with the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) and other parties to reach a consensus.

Nepal’s constitution drafting process will get momentum after the selection of the chairmen of all committees related to the constitution drafting process.

Nepal plans to promulgate a new constitution within a year.

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