Miscellaneous
Tarai talks tied in tangles
Even as all sides appear committed to resolving a row over federal boundaries, the details and timeline for the implementation have tied them in knots.Even as all sides appear committed to resolving a row over federal boundaries, the details and timeline for the implementation have tied them in knots. As a result, an early deal continues to elude the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) and major three parties.
The government has expressed its readiness to resolve the demarcation row without tweaking the existing seven-province federal setup in next few months. But neither the ruling parties nor the main opposition Nepali Congress are willing to offer anything in advance. They are, instead, insisting on forwarding two constituent amendment proposals registered at Parliament to settle the boundary issues within three months, an offer the Madhes-based parties find full of ambiguities.
The Madhes-based parties, who have made redrawing the provincial boundaries their key demand, have refused to support the Constitution Amendment Bill. Claiming that they have been deceived time and again with ‘bad checks” in the past, they have said they would not settle for anything less than “hard cash” this time.
“We have been consistently telling [the major parties] that all the disputes should be resolved in a package,” said Mahantha Thakur, Chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, one of the constituents of the SLMM.
Major parties, mainly the NC and UML, have insisted that the federal setup cannot be revised immediately, arguing that it could prompt other ethnic groups to protest. They have said Madhes demands will be addressed in stages in line with the three-point understanding reached among major parties. Bishnu Rimal, Prime Minister KP Oli’s chief political adviser, said that the government would now endorse the Constituent Amendment Bill as agreed. “Discussions are underway to find a middle path to resolve the boundary issue. Given the complexities, they (Madhesi parties) should also exhibit flexibility,” said Rimal.
Differences dog both sides
Madhesi Morcha
- Most of the leaders of the Samyutka Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) are seeking a guarantee of a separate province in Tharu stronghold in the western plains at the least, while agreeing to resolve the dispute surrounding Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts through a high level political mechanism
- Many Madhes-centric parties, including Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Loktantrik and TMLP, have hinted at supporting the model
- Other Tarai-centric parties, mainly Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal, have sought two provinces in the plains
Major forces
- Top leaders of major parties—the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist) remain divided over extension of Madhes province, with some saying Madhesi stronghold villages of Morang and Sunsari could be integrated into State No 2 based on a cross-party agreement
- One fresh option that is being considered by top leaders of major parties is forming a separate Tharuhat province from Nawalparasi to some parts of Kailali, retaining the hilly districts of State No 5 to make Tharu and Madhesi communities the largest constituent in the province