The Madhes-based parties have warned of withdrawing support from the government if there is further delay in registering the constitution amendment proposal in Parliament.

Criticising the government for not taking any concrete steps in addressing the demands of the agitating parties, leaders of the regional parties said they would not wait for the government beyond Tihar to address their demands.

Madhesi leaders are growing suspicious of the government’s intent after the 

latter missed two self-imposed deadlines to register the 

constitution amendment 

proposal. 

Although the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress had pledged in a three-point agreement signed with the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance 

of Janajati and Madhesi parties, to resolve the Madhes crisis, there has been little progress so far.

After failing to meet his own first date for registering the statute amendment proposal before his India visit, PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal is unlikely to register the proposal before Dashain.

“PM Dahal now expresses his commitment to tabling 

the amendments by Tihar. 

We hope he does not postpone the date again,” said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, adding 

that the parties would resume protests if there was any further delay in addressing their concerns.

On Monday, a group of Madhesi leaders including Mahato had met Dahal to express their concerns over the delays. According to Madhesi leaders present in the meeting, the PM said he was consulting with other stakeholders including the opposition parties in the regard.

Rajendra Shrestha, co-chairman of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal, said the agitating parties would wait for some more time. He warned that they would be forced to take to the streets if their demands were not addressed urgently.

“We are surprised at the government’s reluctance to start formal negotiations. How can we expect a breakthrough in the next few weeks without ironing out the differences including the contentious issue of state restructuring?” Shrestha questioned.