The government has decided to form a high-level political mechanism to redraw the borders of federal provinces outlined by the newly adopted constitution as part of its bid to end the prolonged Tarai crisis.

An emergency meeting of the Cabinet on Sunday evening decided to form the mechanism with a mandate to submit reports with acceptable recommendations for all sides within three months of its formation.

State delineation has become a major bone of contention between the agitating Madhes-centric parties and the government since the new constitution was adopted three months ago.

“An appropriate arrangement will be made regarding the federal boundaries considering the demands raised by the Madhes-based parties. And a mechanism will be constituted to seek political consensus,” said Industry Minister Som Prasad Pandey, reading out the Cabinet decision. The modality of the mechanism, according to Cabinet sources, will be finalised after discussion with the key stakeholders.

The new constitution splits the plains into several provinces contrary to the Madhesi parties’ demand for only two provinces in the Tarai.

The government has tabled a Constitution Amendment Bill with a view to taking the dissident parties into confidence. The bill proposes proportional representation of women, Dalits, Janajatis and the Madhesi community in state bodies and electoral constituency delimitation based on the population by retaining at least one constituency for each of the 75 districts.

Expressing their disagreement with the constitution amendment proposal, the disgruntled regional parties have returned to their constituencies to intensify protests. Although they have not formally ended dialogue with the government, relations between the two sides have become bitter once again.

With the decision to set up the mechanism, the ruling parties have agreed to expedite the constitution amendment process in Parliament. They also reached an understanding to seek consensus on other disputed issues including citizenship through talks.

The government also decided to take legal action against those involved in mistreating President Bidhya Devi Bhandari while she was in Janakpur last week for the Bibaha Panchami ceremony at Janaki Temple.

Supporters of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha had hurdled stones at the carcade of President Bhandari. Media also reported that the locals “purified” the temple premises with holy water and milk as the shrine had been “impure by the widow’s visit”.

Stressing that it has already expressed its firm commitment to resolving disagreements legally and politically, the government urged the agitating parties to ease the supply of essentials including fuel and medicines by ending the border obstruction.