The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha has agreed to support the constitution amendment bill in its present form, with major ruling party Nepali Congress pledging to table the bill as soon as possible.

Despite the main opposition CPN-UML obstructing Parliament proceedings, the NC and the Madhesi Morcha on Friday agreed to table the bill with an aim to pass it before going for the local elections.

The understanding followed the Morcha’s two-day meeting that decided to pass the amendments even without changes. “It would be prudent to make necessary changes before tabling the bill in Parliament. Even if that doesn’t happen, the bill should be forwarded to the House without delay for further process. We are ready to take ownership with reservations,” said Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Vice-chair Hridayesh Tripathi. But he stressed that the Morcha would not accept the elections without amendment.

During a meeting held at the NC Parliamentary Party office in Singha Durbar, the largest party reiterated its commitment to tabling the bill.

“The bill was registered by the government with our consent. Thus we are equally responsible,” a leader quoted NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba as saying.

The government registered the amendment proposal in Parliament on November 29 at the insistence of the Madhes-based forces. But when the main opposition resorted to the House obstruction, the Tarai parties also demanded amendments to the bill. The UML argues that the amendment bill is unconstitutional and against the interests of a majority of the people.

Speaker Onasari Gharti on Thursday called on the major forces to end the stalemate by Sunday. She warned that the Parliament would enter into business if the parties failed to find a solution to resume the House business. The next meeting of Parliament is scheduled for Monday.

Deuba is also said to have pledged to table the bill in the next House meeting. The process of tabling the amendment bill would not stop even if the UML continued to obstruct Parliament, said NC leader Gopalman Shrestha.

According to Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Ganatantrik Chairman Raj Kishor Yadav, the NC expressed its commitment to tabling the bill and passing it. “In response, we told them that we are ready to go for the polls if the amendments are passed,” said Yadav.

Though some Madhesi leaders including Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato had been supportive of the amendment bill in recent weeks, this is the first time the Morcha officially spoke in favour of the bill.

The Morcha also decided to demonstrate across the country to press the government for concluding the constitution amendment process. The alliance said the regional parties would organise rallies together with Janajatis, Muslims and Dalits in all the districts across the country on Monday.

Madhes-based parties decide to reject LLRC’s restructuring

KATHMANDU: The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha has objected to the proposed restructuring of local bodies, accusing the Local Level Restructuring Commission of not taking their concerns into consideration.

In a four-point statement issued after a two-day meeting, the alliance of seven regional parties said population should be the sole basis for determining the number of local units in the Tarai.

The LLRC, which was formed to determine the number of boundaries of village units, municipalities and specially protected areas or autonomous zones, has recommended forming 720 to 730 local units. Based on the recommendation of its technical committees, the commission has proposed around 190 local units in the Tarai—some 76 for eight districts in Province 2.

The alliance objected to the criteria set for the LLRC to fix the boundaries and number of local units saying that it would disenfranchise the Madhesi population.

The Madhesi parties had boycotted the consultation meeting organised by the technical committee, accusing the LLRC of not adhering to the norms and values of state restructuring and federalism while redrawing the local boundaries.

After several failed attempts to start work in the districts and thereafter consult with the Madhesi parties, the LLRC finalised the local units in Province 2 based on feedback from other parties. (PR)