Nepal Timeline-2008

January

January 11, 2008: A cabinet meeting decided to hold the Constituent Assembly elections on April 10, 2008.

February

February 25, 2008: The government seals a deal with the United Democratic Madhesi Front, a joint front of the Madheshi groups which includes demand for 'One Madhesh One Pradesh' which will be decided through the Constituent Assembly.

March

March 2, 2008: The JTMM-G, formed in July 25, 2004, changed its party's name to All Terai Liberation Front (ATLF).

March 4, 2008: Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said that the Maoists will launch a new revolution if they lose the forthcoming Constituent Assembly election.

March 28, 2008: Government urged the four armed outfits of Terai, the Samyukta Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, Terai Cobra, Madhesi Mukti Tigers and Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha to come forward for peace talks without proposing any pre-condition.

April

April 10, 2008: Nepal holds its historic Constituent Assembly Election. About 60 percent of the electorate exercised their franchise in the elections.

April 17, 2008: Nepal's Election Commission (CEC) announced results of the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) election and declared results of 220 constituencies.

April 21, 2008: The US Ambassador to Nepal, Nancy J. Powell, said that the US will remove the CPN-Maoist from its terrorist watch list.

April 25, 2008: The CPN-Maoist won 100 seats under the PR system, NC 73, UML 70, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum 22 and Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (11). Though the Maoists won major seats in elections but failed to achieve an outright majority.

May

May 27, 2008: The new Constituent Assembly was sworn in.

May 28, 2008: The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly declared the country a Federal Democratic Republic and formally announced the abolition of the 240 years of monarchy.

June

June11, 2008: Former King Gyanendra Shah left the Narayanhiti Palace after addressing the Nepali people at a press conference at the Palace.

June 15, 2008: King's palace turned into a museum. The government converted the palace into a museum and unfurled the national flag as a symbolic move to signify the end of monarchy.

June 16, 2008: CPN-Maoist gave a 24-hour ultimatum to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to facilitate formation of the next Government.

June 19, 2008: A meeting of senior leaders of the three major political parties ? CPN-Maoist, NC and UML reach consensus on army integration and amendment to the interim Constitution.

June 26, 2008: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced his resignation at the meeting of the CA.

July

July 1, 2008: The cabinet meeting decided to extend the term of UNMIN by six months as it's term was about to end on July 23.

July 13, 2008: The Constituent Assembly meeting passed the Fifth Amendment to the interim constitution clearing the way for Government formation on majority basis. The amendment also permitted election of the President on the basis of majority.

July 21, 2008: The NC candidate Dr. Ram Baran Yadav was elected as the first President of Republic of Nepal. The MJF candidate Parmananda Jha was elected as the Vice President.

July 23, 2008: Former Speaker and CPN-UML leader Subas Nemwang was elected Chairman of the CA.

August

August 4, 2008: The four big parties ? CPN-Maoist, NC, CPN-UML and MJF ?agreed to form a national unity government.

August 15, 2008: Maoist Chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', was elected the first Prime Minister of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

August 21, 2008: The three coalition partners?Maoist, UML and MJF finalise a Common Minimum Programme (CMP), which aid emphasis on drafting the Constitution within two years

August 23, 2008: Nepali Prime Minister Prachanda visits China to take part in the concluding ceremony of Beijing Olympic.

September

September 14, 2008: Nepal's first Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda visits India and meets Indian counterpart and higher-officials.

September 20, 2008: PM Prachanda visits the United States to address the UN General Assembly in New York.

October

October 28, 2008: The government formed a five-member Army Integration Special Committee to look after the army integration issue.

December

December 16, 2008: Likewise, the government constituted 14 committees of the Constituent Assembly for formally started the process to draft the new Constitution.

December 26, 2008: The four major parties, Maoist, UML, NC and MJF reached an understanding to have two members each in the Army Integration Special Committee under the leadership of Prime Minister.