Madhesi and Janajati leaders on Wednesday said that they are planning to write back to Prime Minister KP Oli in response to the government’s invitation for talks. Parties in Sanghiya Gathabandhan are expected to meet later this week to make formal opinion on Oli’s invitation and political agendas.

“Gathabandhan allies are meeting soon to discuss about the invitation and agendas of the meeting. We would make our official position clear after that,” Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato told the Post. Mahato said that PM Oli’s renewed effort to seek a political solution of the Madhes crisis was positive but said much would depend on the flexibility in the negotiating table.

He said that date of the meeting has not been fixed due to busy schedule top leaders. Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav is currently in western Tarai, while Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur is busy making arrangements for the party’s first general convention. Under pressure from the main opposition Nepali Congress, PM Oli is trying to reach out to the agitating parties for the first time since February. On Tuesday, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba told PM Oli either to resume talks with the Madhesi parties or allow the NC to take lead in finding a solution to the problem.

Gathabandhan allies had boycotted the meeting arguing that invitation was sent out to the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) instead of the newly formed alliance. The agitating parties’ bloc has sought another invitation from the government that addresses the Sanghiya Gathabandhan.

“We have clarified time and again that we are not against the talks. We boycotted the talks as it wasn’t clear with whom the government intends to talk. We will respond after the government sends invitation to Gathabandhan,” Rajendra Shrestha, general secretary of the Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum-Nepal.  

Leaders insisted that Gathabandhan should be invited for the talks as the SLMM, which is an alliance of seven Madhes based parties, is now part of a broader alliance with Janajati forces.