The breakdown of unity among major parties right after the promulgation of new constitution appears one of the key reasons for the sluggish progress in talks with Madhes-based parties. The bitter relations between ruling and opposition parties have complicated the crisis, according to leaders from both sides. Decisive talks with Madhesi morcha cannot take place before the big three parties—CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist), and Nepali Congress—find a way to work together again.    

The breakdown of their unity has led to several complications. There is no agreement on the nature and composition of the negotiations team. Ruling parties have formed a committee led by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and NC is refusing to be a part of it. NC insists that the team led by Dahal is a government talks team. Instead, the NC wants a committee of major parties.

Ruling party leaders say a talks team comprising Prime Minister KP Oli, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and UCPN (Maoist) could be the best solution.  

The ruling parties have not floated anything concrete to the Madhes-based parties in the ongoing talks due to differences among them.   

“It could have been easy to deal with the crisis if NC was on board. Both UML and NC are not serious about resolving the problems,” said UCPN (Maoist) Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “It seems that they have not calculated the price that country pays if there is further deadlock in the country.”

The Maoists vice-chairman added that NC and UML have a flawed perspective on how to deal with federalism and autonomy.

UCPN (Maoist) has recently floated the idea of splitting the disputed districts to find a point of compromise, but UML has not agreed. The idea of splitting the disputed districts was floated several times in the cross-party talk before constitution’s promulgation, but it was not adopted due to the positions taken by some top leaders of NC and UML. The main opposition, NC, does not have any clear position on how to consider the demands of Madhes-based parties either. First, it wants a uniform view of ruling parties on how they are preparing to address the demands of Madhes-based parties.  

“We can formulate our position only after ruling parties come up with a common position,” said NC Spokesperson Dilendra Badu. NC leaders, however, have rejected the idea of splitting districts, arguing that it would fuel the protests in other parts of the country.  

NC’s reluctance to take a position may be linked to its upcoming general convention, according to leaders. NC leader Ramesh Lekhak, a leader close to senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, said it is not possible to split Kailali district to address the demands of Madhes-based parties.

NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel and General Secretary Krishna Sitaula are taking hard positions on demarcation. Without agreement among major parties, there cannot be amendment to constitution to address demands of Madhes-based parties. “The constitution drafting process was accomplished under the leadership of NC. It is not an opposition party when it comes to amendment to constitution,” said UML leader Pradeep Gywali. “NC should not think of taking advantage, cornering the government at this difficult time.”

There are also divergent opinions among Madhes-based parties. While Tarai Madhesi Loktantirk Party, ruling Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik and other fringe Madhes-based parties are ready for a compromise, Sanghya Samajbadi Forum and Sadbhawana Party led by Rajendra Mahto are still taking hard positions..

No demarcation under pressure: Leaders

Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak said on Thursday that there would not be any changes to the current demarcation of federal units.

Lekhak, who has been closely involved in the constitution drafting process, said most of the demands of Madhes-based parties would be resolved if Parliament passes the Constitution Amendment Bill registered by the previous government.

“We went to seven provinces after CA rejected the concept of ethnic federalism. There should be a referendum before deciding on Kailali, Kanchanpur, Sunsari, Jhapa and Morang,” Lekhak said, addressing a programme organised by Reporter’s Club on Thursday. He opposed the concept of splitting Kailali district.

UCPN (Maoist) leader Janardhan Sharma said changes would be possible only after forging political consensus among the parties. “There won’t be changes in demarcation under pressure,” Sharma said. Insisting that the new constitution has addressed the demands of Madhesi community, he urged all the people to unite against India’s unofficial blockade.