The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-centric parties, will pay a terrible price if it turns down the government’s request to participate in the local level elections, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said on Friday.

Addressing an election rally organised by CPN (Maoist Centre) in Birtamod, Jhapa, Dahal, also the chairman of the Maoist party, said that his government has maintained utmost flexibility to address the Morcha’s concerns to bring it on board the election process.  

The prime minister, who is scheduled to hold talks with the Morcha leaders on Friday morning, said that he will try to convince the agitating side to participate in the polls slated for May 14. 

In case the Morcha leaders refuse to participate in the local elections, Dahal said, the decision will only hurt them and their reputation. 

The people will reject Morcha if it decides boycott the elections, the prime minister added.

He also claimed that the elections will be conducted in a single phase.