The supporters of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) padlocked the Siraha district election office and picketed the district election offices in Dhanusha, Saptari and Rautahat on Tuesday. The SLMM supporters were protesting against the government decision to hold the local level elections on May 14 without addressing their demands.

In Siraha, the SLMM cadres organised a corner meeting after padlocking the district election office at 1:30 pm. The padlock was later broken by police.

In Saptari, the SLMM supporters picketed the Rajbiraj-based district election office. The local administration had deployed a large number of police personnel in the area to maintain law and order.

A group of SLMM supporters also staged a demonstration outside the house of Sumanraj Pyakurel, the central committee member of CPN-UML and the party’s Saptari district in charge.

Pyakurel told the Post that the protesters also misbehaved with his wife and his daughter-in-law.

The SLMM, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, has said it will not allow the government to stage the local elections under current circumstances. It has been pressing the government to address its demands of amending some provisions in the constitution.

In Dhanusha, the SLMM supporters organised a sit-in outside the district election office until 2 pm. Lawmaker Bijaya Kumar Singh of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party said the SLMM will not let the government hold the elections in Madhes without amending the constitution.

In Rautahat, the cadres of the SLMM picketed the district election office from 9 am till 4 pm. The SLMM supporters obstructed a meeting of Rastriya Prajatantra Party in Gaur. They vandalised the meeting hall of Gaur Municipality.