The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, has begun internal preparations to launch another round of protests. However, it has said it will keep doors for negotiations open. 

According to Morcha leaders, preparations are “in full swing” to resume protests from mid-March and they are planning to taking all disgruntled groups including Tharu, Muslim and Janajati communities into confidence. Our protests will not stop unless the major parties agree to revise federal boundaries, they said. 

Redrawing of provincial boundaries is the Morcha’s key demand, and the government has formed a political mechanism to address the issue. But the Morcha has refused to be part of the mechanism, saying it was formed “unilaterally” to “appease foreigners”.

The government on Thursday, a day before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli started his India visit, had formed the political mechanism, which was envisioned as a body to make recommendations on federal boundaries in three months. 

The Morcha has been saying that it was not consulted before the mechanism was formed. 

Seven Madhes-based parties of the Morcha are currently reaching out to their constituencies to collect feedback.  

Top leaders of the parties are planning to formulate Morcha’s upcoming strategies after the protest. 

“We are technically in protest even now. Plans are afoot to intensify the protests both in the Tarai and Kathmandu in coming weeks,” said Upendra Yadav, Chairman of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal. 

SSFN recently concluded a meeting of the party’s central committee stressing on the need of launching Kathmandu-centric protests. 

Similarly, top leaders of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik (TMLP), including its Chairman Mahantha Thakur, were recently visiting districts across the plains to strengthen the party’s organisation.  

“Now the central leadership will review the past protests and plan further protests based on suggestions received from local leaders,” said Govind Chaudhary, general secretary of the TMLP.

Observers said Madhesi parties’ were also using “consultation campaigns” as a strategy to expand their support base. 

Meanwhile, the Sadbhawana Party and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party are also reaching out to their support base to formulate additional programmes of protest. The Sadbhawana Party plans to revive and mobilise party’s defunct youth wing to take lead of the protests across Tarai districts.