In an attempt to bring the Madhes-based parties on board the government formation process, the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have agreed to form a joint team.

The panel, which will have three members each from the NC, Maoist Centre and Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance of Janajati and Madhesi parties, will try to find ways to settle all contentious issues related to the constitution, including redrawing of federal boundaries.

 During a joint meeting of the three forces held at Singha Durbar on Saturday, the NC and the Maoist Centre, a new alliance that is set to replace the incumbent CPN-UML-led government, also agreed to immediately address the non-political demands of the Madhes-based parties that include declaring those killed during the Madhes protest martyrs, provide medical expenses for the victims, and release compensation to the families of the deceased.

The agitating parties, which had concluded that the KP Sharma Oli government “was not keen to address their demands”, have expressed support to the new NC-Maoist alliance, hoping that the new government would take initiatives to defuse the Madhes crisis. Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in an interview to the Post on Thursday had said after becoming the prime minister, he would create conducive environment, as a first step, for the Madhes-based parties to sit for talks.

The Sanghiya Gathabandhan has selected Hridayesh Tripathi, Rajendra Shrestha and Kumar Lingden to represent the group in the joint team, said Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal (SSF-N) Chair Upendra Yadav after Saturday’s meeting.

According to Bimalendra Nidhi, the Congress will send him, Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Ramesh Lekhak to the team.

“The panel will soon start discussion on contentious issues of the constitution and prepare a draft for a fresh agreement,” said SSF-N Co-Chair Rajendra Shrestha.

He, however, made it clear that agitating forces will not join the government “until the NC and the Maoist Centre give assurances to address our political demands”.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Nidhi said, “The Madhes-based parties have sought a clear deal on the contentious issues before joining the government.”

The Madhes-based parties so far have been blowing hot and cold on the question of joining the new government.

Of late, they have been seeking “credible assurances” from the NC-Maoist alliance for them to join the government. They have also called on the new alliance to register a constitution amendment proposal in Parliament, a move they see as part of the “credible assurances” they are seeking.

While the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, has forwarded 11-point demand, the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, which has the SLMM and other Janajati forces, has put forth 26-point demand, with redrawing of federal boundaries as one of the demands.

The constituents of the SLMM too have different views about joining the government. A section of the Morcha is for signing “a symbolic deal” with the NC-Maoist alliance to join the government in view of the upcoming elections.

 Claiming that the Gathabandhan is also part of the new coalition, Maoist Centre leader Giriraj Mani Pokhrel said the NC and the Maoist Centre have urged it to extend support to form national consensus government.