Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur has warned the government against plans to go to the polls without endorsing the constitution amendment bill tabled in Parliament.

Speaking at an interaction programme in the Capital on Sunday, Thakur said that the Madhes-based parties would not take part in any elections held before resolving disputes over the constitution. He also warned of serious consequences if the government held elections through use of force.

“The constitution amendment bill should be endorsed before elections. If anyone thinks Morcha would participate in the elections without constitution amendment, it’s just a fanciful thinking,” said Thakur, adding that just forwarding the amendment bill for discussion or putting it to vote is not enough for the regional parties to join the elections.

The senior most leader in the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Tarai-centric parties, said that a meaningful resolution of Madhes crisis holds the key to holding successful elections.

“We are not against the elections. But elections held without resolving the problems would only worsen the crisis,” said Thakur, calling for making amends to the mistake made during the constitution promulgation.“Problems that are political in nature require a political solution and constitutional problems call for a constitutional solution. The existing problem is political in nature and it requires a political solution.”

Thakur also criticised the government for demarcating local boundaries before finalising the provincial boundaries. “We cannot accept the proposed demarcation that was prepared without consulting us. Moreover, the demarcation of local boundaries should come under the jurisdiction of the federal provinces,” he said. (PR)