The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, which has announced to boycott and disrupt the local level elections scheduled for May 14, has directed its affiliates in the districts to launch protests against the polls.

Leaders said all the seven SLMM constituents had directed their district chapters to jointly protest against the election. The move comes at a time when several parties including the main opposition CPN-UML, are holding electoral campaigns. The regional parties want constitutional amendments before participating in elections.

“We will not let the government hold the elections unless our demands are met. We will launch protests to counter programmes organised by various parties,” said a Sadbhawana Party leader, adding that all the Morcha members have asked their district units to independently foil the campaigns of major parties.

The Morcha secretariat, however, has not taken any formal decision against the campaigns. The regional parties have unveiled separate programmes targeting the UML’s campaign. (PR)