The ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) has decided to withdraw the constitution amendment bill tabled in Parliament and register another proposal addressing five issues with an aim to involve the agitating Madhesi Morcha in the local level election.

A meeting of the party headquarters held at Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s official residence in Baluwatar decided to register a new proposal to amend the issues including three from the bill, by dropping the issue of redrawing the provincial boundaries. Maoist Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said the government would form a high-level commission to sort the row over the provincial boundaries.

The meeting also decided to increase the number of local level units in the eight districts of Province 2 and three districts of Province 5—Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and Nawalparasi—on the basis of population and to hold the election in the 11 districts in the second phase if the Madhes-based parties join the polls.

The new amendments will include stripping the chiefs and deputy chiefs of local governments of their voting rights in the Electoral College and clarifying Article 274 of the constitution so that the concerned provinces can take a decision on realigning the boundaries. The three issues included in the tabled bill are related to language, citizenship and representation in the Upper House.

During a meeting with second-rung leaders of the Sanghiya Gathabandhan on Wednesday, PM Dahal had proposed withdrawing the amendment bill and registering a new one that would address their concerns.

Senior Maoist leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the scheduled election would be held on May 14 at any cost and the party would do its best to ensure the Morcha’s participation in it.

Asked if the Maoist Centre’s decision would cheer the agitating Gathabandhan, Co-chairman of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Rajendra Shrestha said PM Dahal would be trusted only if he translated his words into action. Shrestha remarked that holding the polls in some places of the Tarai in the second phase might invite another problem.

SSFN Chairman Upendra Yadav said the election would be possible only if the constitution is amended to address their concerns.