Madhes-based forces are ready to accept major parties’ proposal to redraw federal boundaries through a high level political mechanism within next three months if the latter provide a clear framework, a senior leader of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha told the Post. 

Talking to the Post for the Monday Interview, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Vice Chairman Hridayesh Tripathi, who is also a member of a taskforce formed to iron out differences on the contentious issues of the constitution, emphasised that major parties should give “credible assurance on parameter, terms of reference and legitimacy” of the proposed mechanism. 

“The TOR should define what the proposed mechanism would do, clearly specifying which provincial boundaries it would revise and how,” said Tripathi. “Similarly, the major parties should also be ready to give legal validity to the framework agreement, endorsing it through a two-thirds majority in Parliament.” 

Tripathi also said that the proposals registered by some Nepali Congress parliamentarians including Bimalendra Nidhi seeking to revise the Constitution Amendment Bill could address the Morcha’s concerns pertaining to constituency delineation and proportional and inclusive representation in state bodies “to a large extent”. 

“It’s true that some amendment proposals address Morcha’s demands to a large extent. We are keenly waiting to see if the revisions would be taken into account while endorsing the bill,” said Tripathi. 

Claiming that the taskforce is having “open and candid discussion” on the contentious issues, Tripathi said he was hopeful of an early breakthrough in resolving the Tarai crisis. But he said that the agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, of which his party is a key ally, would not withdraw protests in the plains until their demands were met.

“As far as Morcha’s Birgunj border blockade is concerned, it will continue. But there are no problems at other border points,” said Tripathi. 

Several Madhes-centric parties have been protesting for the past four months, demanding greater autonomy for Madhes. In its 11-point demand, the Morcha has demanded two provinces along the southern plains.