As the major parties push through a constitution bill, the agitating Madhesi parties have warned that promulgation of new constitution without addressing the aspirations of Madhesi people “will be constested from the outset and invite another conflict in the country”.

The Constituent Assembly (CA) entered the final phase of the charter process on Sunday with a clause-wise voting on the draft constitution despite the absence of the Madhes-based parties which rejected the major parties’ offer to join the CA process.

“This constitution cannot take the country towards peace, prosperity and equality. Today’s move is sure to infuriate the people who were hopeful of some announcement to address their demand,” said Sarbendra Nath Sukla of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party.

Major parties’ last ditch effort to bring the disgruntled Madhesi parties on board the CA process ended on Sunday after the latter refused to sit for talks until all of their preconditions were met. Second-rung leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) had repeatedly assured the Madhesi leaders that their rightful demands would be addressed after promulgation of the constitution.

“They stalled the constitution drafting process due to their own disagreement. There was no serious intention to bring us on board,” said Laxman Lal Karna, co-chair of the Sadbhawana Party. Madhes-based parties have been staging protests along the Tarai plains demanding implementation of the past agreements and two provinces in Tarai, among others.

Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, a front of four Madhes-based parties, has been demanding extension of the proposed Province 2 up to Jhapa in the east and formation of separate Tharuhat province from Nawalparasi to Kanchanpur.

Chairman of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav warned the decision to promulgate the constitution without addressing grievances of the marginalised communities will lead the nation to confrontation. “Major parties have taken the country to the brink. It sure will have far-reaching consequences,” he said.

The Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L), a signatory of the 16-point agreement, has also decided to boycott the process.

“Our party has decided to stay away from the process as major parties failed to address concerns of Tharu and Madhesi people,” said MJF-L General Secretary Ram Janam Chaudhary. Leaders said MJF-L chief Gachhadar is still engaged in a negotiation to find some sort of compromise before the promulgation of the constitution.