The Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati parties, has proposed to form a tripartite panel comprising representatives of the agitating parties and the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress to negotiate on the disputed issues of the constitution.

The Gathabandhan leaders said that the agitating parties and the two major ruling allies should strike a common position on the contentious issues of the constitution before holding further negotiation with other parties, including CPN-UML for a broader political consensus.

The UML leaders are against further amendments to the constitution. Last week, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli had said that most of the demands of the agitating parties have been addressed by the first amendment to the constitution.

 “We still want the UML to take part in the panel, but its leadership doesn’t appear keen to make further changes in the constitution. It would be easier to negotiate with the UML once we have come up with a common proposal to resolve the current crisis facing the constitution,” said Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal Co Chair Rajendra Shrestha.

Sanghiya Gathabandhan and Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, which is a part of larger alliance, have separately forwarded 11-point and 26-point demand

that, among others, seek major revision in federal boundaries. 

The Gathabandhan leaders said that the NC and the Maoist Centre appear positive about the proposal. They are hopeful that the panel would start its work by the end of August.

Hridayesh Tripathi, vice chairman of Sadbhawana Party, said that the panel would be formed after non-political demands of the agitating parties are addressed. ‘

The Gathabandhan is also planning to submit a list of the families whose loved ones died during the Madhes movement but are yet to receive compensation.

“The government appears reluctant to accept some people who died during the Madhes movement as martyrs,” said a Morcha leader.

The government has refused to acknowledge two deceased as martyrs, arguing that one had committed suicide and another was an Indian national.