After several formal attempts to negotiate a deal on the Madhes crisis failed to yield results, an “informal” exercise to narrow down the differences has begun with a cross-party panel holding backchannel negotiations, according to political leaders.

The talks team led by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who also heads the High-level Political Committee formed to deal with political issues, has its task cut out: to find an agreement on the contents of the constitution amendment proposals registered in Parliament, and explore ways to end the crisis.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula, CPN-UML leader and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and Law Minister Agni Kharel, Sadbhawana Party Co-chair Laxman Lal Karna and Jitendra Narayan Dev of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik are part of the panel seeking a political solution outside the formal channel, according leaders privy to the developments.

“Extensive informal consultations are going on,” said UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali, who is close to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. “The amendment process will begin once the parties narrow down their differences.”

Maoist chief Dahal is holding regular meetings with the opposition Nepali Congress and the agitating Madhes-based parties separately. He has also been regularly briefing the developments to the PM.

Leaders are exploring ways to take all the parties on board through constitutional amendment by modifying the proposal tabled by the erstwhile Sushil Koirala-led government. “The prime minister has mandated the Maoist chairman to hold discussion with the parties and come up with a proposal for an amicable solution on the [Tarai] standoff,” said PM’s Press Adviser Pramod Dahal.

Dahal said the PM had expressed his readiness to expedite constitution amendment once the agitating Madhesi parties own up the proposal and agree to lift their obstruction at border points.

Top leaders of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of four Tarai-based parties, said they are in consultation with Dahal to seek a political solution to the prolonged crisis. “Dahal hasn’t been able to offer any idea on state delineation so far,” said Sadbhawana Co-chair Karna.

The regional parties see the NC and the UML position on the federal set-up as the major obstacle in resolving the crisis. Madhesi leaders insist that there should be at least a “tentative deal” on revising the federal boundaries for an agreement.

“Constitution amendment alone will not be acceptable to the people. They have been calling for Madhes Sarkar,” said Mahantha Thakur, chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, referring to the protesters’ demand for their own government. He said the Madhesi Morcha cannot guarantee an end to the protests only with passage of the amendment proposal.

Madhes-centric parties have said the decision to mobilise more security personnel in the Tarai amid the delay in talks had raised serious questions about the intention of the government. They accused the government of preparing to suppress the dissent with force.

“Tension will escalate if the government fails to resolve the problem politically. The gap between the government’s words and action has raised suspicion,” said Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav.