Various political parties, including the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress, staged demonstrations in different parts of the country on Tuesday to protest the government plan of splitting Province 5. 

The student wings of the NC, Maoist, CPN-UML and Rastriya Janamorcha organised a protest rally in Sandhikharka, the district headquarters of Arghakhanchi.

The leaders of the ruling parties, who were participating in the rally, said that they were compelled to protest because their party leaderships were trying to divide Province 5 against the will of people.

“This rally is the first phase of our protest where we exert pressure to the central leaders. We hope they don’t take decision against our wish,” said Bishnu Muskan, the Arghakhanchi district president of NC.

Political parties in various districts of Lumbini Zone have urged their leaders, including Balkrishna Khand, Chandra Bhandari and Pushpa Bhusal of NC; Bishnu Poudel and Gokarna Bista of UML; and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi of the Maoist party, to fight against the government plan of splitting Province 5.

They are also planning to organise decisive protests in Rupandehi, Dang and Banke.

Political parties in Pyuthan and Rolpa continued to protest against the Province 5 split plan.

“We are protesting against the government led by our own party because our demands were not heard,” said Krishna Adhikari, the Pyuthan district assistant coordinator of Maoist party.