The Tharuhat/Tharuwan Joint Struggle Committee, an organisation of Tharu groups from across the political spectrum, have announced a series of protest programmes in response to the scheduled local elections that it claims is ‘certain to invite confrontation and conflict’. 

The TSJC is the latest groups to announce the protest, scheduled to start on March 3, against the government’s decision to hold the local level elections on May 14 after the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha and the Sanghiya Gathabandhan. 

TSJC leaders said the elections cannot be supported unless the local boundaries are redrawn with necessary changes in line with the agreement reached between the government and the Tharu groups. 

“It’s clear that the government and major parties are not sincere and accountable to our demands. We hope to mount sustained pressure on the government to endorse the constitution with revision and ensure fully proportional system as agreed in the 13-point agreement signed with us,” TJSC Coordinator Dhaniram Chaudhary said in a statement. 

The TJSC has announced an 11-day protest programme, beginning with a torch rally in Kathmandu on March 3. The protest programme, which is expected to be endorsed by a gathering of Tharu leaders on Feb 28, also includes mass demonstrations against the elections in all Tarai districts and Kathmandu from March 3 to 13. Though the TJSC is not against the elections, its leaders insist that the federal and local boundaries should be demarcated beforehand. 

It has also objected to the Local Level Restructuring Commission report which, it claims, attempts to disenfranchise Tharu, Madhesi, Muslim and other excluded communities. Rajkumar Lekhi, chairman of the Nepal Nagarik Party, said that the government should also determine the number and boundaries of autonomous provinces, special areas and protected areas as envisioned in the constitution.