Madhesis strike deal with Nepal government over constitution issue

Nepal's Madhesi parties have struck a deal with the Prachanda-led coalition government under which they would take part in the local body elections after a revised constitution amendment bill is passed in Parliament through a fast-track process.

The Federal Alliance, a grouping of agitating Madhesi parties and ethnic groups, reached an agreement on issues related to constitution amendment and local polls. Agreement was reached between the agitating Madhesi parties and the government representatives on fast track endorsement of revised constitution amendment bill and to conduct local elections in two phases, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's office. 

The government has proposed two dates, May 14 and June 14, for conducting local body polls on two phases. "The Alliance would take part in local level elections only after the revised constitution amendment bill gets endorsed in the Parliament," said Rajendra Mahato, a senior leader of the alliance.

Meanwhile, a cabinet meeting endorsed the agreement that the ruling parties forged with the Federal Alliance, and decided to hold the local level elections in two phases. Earlier on Sunday morning, Prime Minister Prachanda had held consultations with chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and main opposition leader and CPN-UML chief K. P. Sharma Oli and discussed the matters relating to local polls and constitution amendment.

Madhesi parties have called off their stir following the agreement with the government. The local bodies election taking place after a gap of two decades would empower the people and distribute power from Singha Durbar government secretariat to villages, he said appealing to all to participate in the polls.

Madhesi parties had earlier warned the government that they would disrupt the local elections if their demands, including proportional representation in Parliament, are not addressed. The Madhesi parties, who claim to represent the interests of inhabitants of the southern Terai region who are mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding that the constitution promulgated in 2015 be amended to revise the provisions of citizenship and re-demarcation of the provincial boundary before going to the May polls.

Source: Timesofoman