The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal (RJP-N), which is in protest against the June 28 local level elections accusing the government of failing to address its concerns, told major parties on Wednesday that it would not be able to participate in the polls on the said date “even if all of its demands are met now”, as there is hardly any time left for preparations.

During a meeting called by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to find a way to bring the RJP-N on board the poll process, its leaders, including Mahantha Thakur, were of the view that it could participate in the polls only if “a conducive environment” is created and polls are delayed. 

Top leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN-UML and the RJP-N were present in the meeting. According to a leader present in the meeting, Wednesday’s meeting could not reach a conclusion, but leaders decided to hold yet another round of meeting on Thursday morning when discussions will also take place on what all “conducive environment” entails. 

A top leader from the governing alliance told the Post that “there has been an informal understanding” with the RJP-N on deferring polls in Province 2 and that an announcement to this effect is likely on Thursday. According to sources, prior to Thursday’s meeting of the major parties, top leaders of the governing alliance, including PM Deuba, will hold a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav to solicit his views on the possibility of poll deferral in Province 2. Thereafter, leaders of five political parties, including the main opposition and the agitating RJP-N, will sit for talks, according to the source. 

The RJP-N has been demanding constitution amendment, an increase in number of local units in Tarai districts, scrapping fake cases against the cadres in relation to Tharuhat and Madhes movements, releasing those who were detained on various charges and declaring those who were killed during various protests martyrs.

Maoist Centre leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha told the Post that RJP-N leaders on Wednesday made it clear that they would not be able to join the polls on June 28 even if all of their political and non-political demands are met now. 

“They said they don’t have enough time for preparations,” said Shrestha, hinting that the agitating party is now pressing for delaying polls. 

The RJP-N also refused to give in writing that it would participate in polls. 

During a meeting of major parties on Tuesday, leaders had held discussion on the possibility of postponing polls “if the RJP-N agrees to commit to polls in writing”.

But a decision to defer polls will require the consent of the UML, which so far has stood against postponing the elections. 

During Wednesday’s meeting also, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli sought to know what kind of “covert agreement” the governing parties had reached with the RJP-N. 

“The RJP-N leaders made it clear that they will not join the polls until the constitution is amended and the number of local units is increased in Tarai districts,” UML leader Subas Nembang told reporters after the meeting. “We put our views that polls should not be postponed and that they must be held on the announced date.”