A meeting between leaders of the ruling coalition—Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Maoist Centre)— and Madhesi Morcha leaders to discuss on holding the local level elections in two phases and constitution amendment is underway at the PM’s residence in Baluwatar.

The meeting called by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is taking place a day after six out of Madhes-based parties affiliated with the Samyukta Loktanrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) unified to form Rastriya Janata Party. After the unification, the RJP has announced ‘to step up protest’ to press for statute revision.

Morcha leaders have said that they will reiterate their stand for revised constitution amendment during the meeting.

Likewise, the government has also expressed on being flexible to reach to a consensus. The ruling coalition is opting to conduct the local polls in two-phases if an agreement is reached with the Morcha.

PM Dahal, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, NC leaders Ram Chandra Poudel, Sashank Koirala, Prakash Man Singh, CPN (MC) leaders Barsha Man Pun, SLMM leaders Mahanta Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, Ashok Rai, Rajendra Shrestha, Anil Kumar Jha, Sharat Singh Bhandari, Mahendra Rae Yadav, Hridayesh Tripathi among other leaders are taking part in today’s meeting.

Madhesi Morcha has been dissenting over the registration of the new amendment proposal by the government at the parliament on April 11. After the government’s move, there have been no formal talks between the government and the Morcha.

Meanwhile, Morcha and Sanghiya Gathabandhan—an alliance of Madhes and Janajati parties—have begun programmes of protest from April 18 in a bid to foil the upcoming local polls slated for May 14.