Madhesis strike deal with govt, will go for polls

Kathmandu: Nepal’s Madhesi parties have struck a deal with the Prachanda-led coalition government under which they would take part in the local body elections after a revised Constitution amendment bill is passed in Parliament through a fast-track process.

Federal Alliance, a coalition of Madhesi parties and ethnic groups, reached an agreement with the government representives on fast-track endorsement of a revised Constitution amendment bill and  local elections in two phases, according to the PMO.

The government has proposed two dates, May 14 and June 14, for conducting local body polls in two phases.

“The alliance would take part in local level elections only after the revised Constitution amendment bill gets endorsed in the Parliament,” said Rajendra Mahato, a leader of the alliance.

A Cabinet meeting endorsed the agreement. Earlier, Prime Minister Prachanda had held consultations with chief Election Commissioner Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and Opposition leader and CPN-UML chief K. P. Sharma Oli.

Madhesi parties have called off their stir following the agreement.

Madhesi parties had warned the government that they would disrupt the elections if their demands were not addressed.

The parties have been demanding that the Constitution promulgated in 2015 be amended to revise the provisions of citizenship and re-demarcation of the provincial boundary before the May polls.