The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N) is likely to take a decision on their participation in the second phase of local level elections scheduled for June 14 on Wednesday.

The RJP-N has indicated that it may participate in the polls after the government decided to add 22 more local units in Tarai districts, besides converting 24 rural municipalities to municipalities and two sub-metropolises to metropolises.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had briefed the RJP-N leader about the government’s move to address their demands besides the CPN-UML’s threat to oppose the move to increase the local units in the southern plains.

“Citing the UML standing committee decision, Chairman KP Sharma Oli has warned the government not to increase the number of local levels in Tarai,” RJP-N leader Manish Kumar Suman quoted PM Dahal as saying.

Earlier PM Dahal had told RJP-N leaders that the UML was also positive on increasing the local levels in the Tarai. But the party’s standing committee meeting on Sunday decided against it.

Meanwhile, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav has urged the RJP-N for talks on Tuesday on the matter. However, with some leaders including Rajendra Mahato set to attend a function in Parsa, the Mahantha Thakur-led Sanghiya Gathabandhan would take a final decision only on Wednesday.

According to Suman, as PM Dahal had sought one day’s time for addressing the Madhes-centric parties’ demands, the RJP-N leaders decided to postpone the Gathabandhan’s meeting for Wednesday.

If all other demands were met by the government, the Gathabandhan leaders could seek a political agreement from leaders of the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress, ensuring an amendment to the constitution before the polls.

Some RJP-N leaders have claimed that the government’s latest decision to increase the local units and withdrawing ‘fake’ cases filed against the leaders and cadres of Gathabandhan could help bring the Madhesi parties onboard the polls.