The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, has taken strong exception to an understanding reached among major parties to put the constitution amendment bill on hold and go for local elections.

Top leaders of three major parties on Tuesday agreed, in principle, to keep the amendment bill inactive and prepare for local elections. 

Morcha leaders on Wednesday warned major parties against such a move, saying it will render the efforts made so far to find a solution to the Madhes crisis null and push the country towards uncertainty. 

Of the seven constituents of the Morcha, the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal (SSF-N), which has stood against the amendment bill since the day it was registered and opposed elections, has once again come out strongly against the major parties’ 

poll plans. 

“We will announce protests the same day the government announces the dates for local polls. Going to polls without addressing the agitating forces’ concerns will be a grave mistake,” SSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav told the Post. 

Yadav, who is also the coordinator of the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, a larger alliance of Madhesi and Janajati forces, said that it is imperative that the parties across the political spectrum come together to “endorse the bill through Parliament after necessary revisions if they indeed are sincerely planning to hold elections. 

The Madhes-based parties feel betrayed by the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress (NC). As part of a quid pro quo deal between them meant the Madhesi forces will support the Maoist-NC alliance and the new government would address their concerns through constitution amendment. 

The Maoist-NC alliance took around three months to register the constitution amendment proposal much to the chagrin of the Madhes-based parties, who are saying it’s too little, too late. Now plans to keep the bill inactive and go for polls have vexed the Morcha no end. 

Some Madhesi leaders say there could be a bigger conspiracy behind putting “the pressing issues” on the back burner and holding polls. 

 “The Maoist Centre and NC had pledged to address our demands before going to polls. The sudden poll plan now could be a design to divert the attention from the amendment bill,” said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato. “Or else, why would they show this urgency when everyone knows elections cannot be held by ignoring some sections of the society?” 

Several Madhesi leaders, including Mahato, have said they are open to elections under the existing structure, but only if their demands are addressed. 

Amid this, Morcha leaders are planning to hold talks with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, most probably on Thursday, to seek the government’s official position on statute amendment and local polls.  The Morcha leadership, who had earlier insisted on revising the bill, is now 

considering accepting the bill in the current form in the wake of strong campaigns launched against it by the opposition bloc. 

“Many of us would like to see our demands addressed in its entirety. But we will be left with no option than to support what is on the table and continue our struggle for remaining demands,” said a senior leader of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party.