The agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) has asked the government to come up with a concrete plan on state delineation in the next meeting reiterating its stand of two provinces in the Tarai.

In the first formal meeting with the three-party panel after the promulgation of the constitution, the SLMM, an alliance of four Madhesi parties, on Tuesday said the issue of federal set-up should be resolved through constitution amendment, not by a Federal Commission.

The meeting held in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, ended inconclusively after three hours, only agreeing to another meeting on Wednesday. The three-party panel comprised Forest Minister Mahesh Acharya, CPN-UML Chief Whip Agni Kharel and UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chair Narayan Kaji Shrestha while Sadbhawana Party Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal leader Lal Babu Raut, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) General Secretary Sarbendra Nath Shukla, and Nam Naresh Rai of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party represented the alliance.

In the meeting, the Morcha put forth its 35-point demand which includes concerns on delineation, proportional inclusive representation of the marginalised communities in state agencies, delimitation of electoral constituencies based on population and revision of the constituencies every 10 years. The alliance pressed the government for compensation to the families of those killed in protests and free treatment for the injured.

“We didn’t enter into political issues. The injured have not got free treatment while the government is reluctant to name those killed in protests as martyrs,” said Shukla.

He, however, added that some of the government initiatives were positive though there was a lot more to be done before an agreement.

The cross-party panel had asked the Morcha leaders to call off their agitation to ease supplies in the country. Madhesi leaders rejected the idea but said they would continue their protests until their demands were addressed. According to Acharya, the dialogue was positive and the political agendas would be discussed on Wednesday. He hoped to reach an agreement “very soon”.

The SLMM on Sunday formed a four-member talks team following several rounds of positive informal meetings between the government and TMLP Chairman Mahantha Thakur. The disgruntled parties have been protesting for the last 52 days, particularly in border areas and on the highways.

The meeting with the Sanghiya Loktantrik Morcha led by Bijay Kumar Gachhadar was postponed citing the need for more preparations on both sides.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala met the people injured in the Madhes agitation at Bir Hospital and directed the officials to provide best for their treatment. He said the government would bear their treatment cost. The PM met the injured after SLMM remarks that the government was not serious about their treatment.