The Madhes-based parties are planning to wait until the end of the Nepali Congress General Convention and subsequent course the national politics takes before announcing their next move.

Several leaders of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM), an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, told the Post that they are also keeping an eye on potential government change. 

The SLMM, which has made redrawing of provincial boundaries its key demand, is waiting for an opportune moment to launch different programmes, including Capital-centric protests, to pressure the major parties to meet their demands. 

Though they have withdrawn their certain protest programmes, they have not announced new ones. 

Whether to officially call off all forms of protests or to intensify them will be taken after assessing the political scenario in coming days, especially after the Congress General Convention, the Madhesi leaders told the Post. 

The SLMM is hopeful of a major shift in the political alliance with a new power-sharing deal following the convention of the largest party currently in opposition. 

Morcha on Wednesday, however, introduced some symbolic programmes of protests which include burning effigies of the leaders involved in the promulgation of the constitution, interactions and mass gatherings.     

 Leaders, however, have also hinted that the Morcha allies could extend support or join the government if the NC takes the lead.

They claim that the support, however, will be conditional—only if the NC agrees to agree to their demand related to boundaries. 

Most of the Morcha allies are in favour of extending support to the NC to help it lead the government, as unseating the KP Sharma Oli as the prime minister could be portrayed as their tactical win. Such move would also help Morcha keep its agendas alive till the next election. Besides, this will put them in a decisive position on formation and work of the government.  

“A tactical alliance with the NC on a power-sharing deal and disputed issues of the constitution is a possibility. But nothing can be said now, as things still look fluid,” said a senior Morcha leader.  

He said that the agitating parties are weighing several options. 

The Morcha leaders said that they would push their agendas through the streets if the incumbent government gets continuity.

Though all three major parties—NC, the CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist)—share more or less common position on Madhes issues, most of the Morcha’s support base sees Prime Minister Oli as a major hurdle when it comes to addressing their demands. 

Upendra Yadav, Chairman of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, who has been vocally critical of the incumbent government, said protest is their priority, not power game. 

“There have been no changes in our agendas and protests. The Morcha has made agendas of Madhesi and other marginalised communities its priority,” said Yadav. 

Rajendra Shrestha, a member of Morcha’s central secretariat, said that they are devising strategies for further protests. He said that tactical alliance with other like-minded forces is possible if that strengthens Morcha’s agendas. 

“All are in agreement that there is no alternative to protests under the existing circumstances. The Morcha is determined to continue protests until our demands are met,” said Shrestha.