The main opposition CPN-UML has often been projected as an anti-Madhes force and criticised for its tough stance against the second constitution amendment bill. Evidently, Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato recently said that the Madhesi people would drive the UML out of the plains.

Notably, the UML was the largest party in terms of the seats won during the second Constituent Assembly, with 40 seats in the 22 Tarai districts.

Fearing that the popularity of the party could dip in the plains due to its consistent stance against the issues floated by the Madhes-based parties, UML leaders have been focusing their activities on the southern districts.

On Monday the party organised a mass meeting in Sunsari where they managed to gather thousands of Madhesi people. The event was addressed by senior UML leader and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Clad in the Maithali attire, Nepal addressed the function in the local Maithali language, claiming that a few “landlords” of Madhes had been talking about the rights of the Madhesi people, just to exploit their sentiments, rather than bringing changes to their difficult lives.

Chairman KP Sharma Oli visited Biratnagar for the party’s Morang district conference while leaders including General Secretary Ishwor Pokhrel and deputy General Secretary Bishnu Poudel attended functions at different parts of the Tarai.

With an aim to make the people of the plains aware of the party policy, the UML has announced campaigns to be carried out from Mechi to Mahakali. Secretary of the UML central secretariat Krishna Gopal Shrestha said the party would make preparations for about a month before launching the campaign. The UML has claimed that the drive would help bring together the people living in the Madhes, Hills and Mountains, besides strengthening national unity. The opportunity would also be utilised to garner support for the party in the upcoming elections. Top leaders of the party, alongside local leaders and cadres, would attend the rallies and demonstrations.