Front leaders warn against holding polls sans amendment

Front leaders warn against holding polls sans amendment

Rajbiraj (Saptari), March 27: Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chairman, Upendra Yadav, on Sunday ruled out the possibility of conducting the polls without amendment of the new constitution.

Speaking at a ceremony held to pay tribute to the five Untied Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) cadres killed in police firing at the Rajbiraj Industrial Zone in Maleth, Yadav said that Kathmandu does not have the right to conduct local elections under the existing federal set up.

Stating that the right to hold local elections in Madhes rested with Madhes government, Yadav added, "If elections need to be held it should be that of the centre. When the central election is held thereby making the local level efficient, then only should there be local level elections."

On the occasion, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) Chairman, Mahantha Thakur, said they would accept the elections only after an amendment proposal with border demarcation was introduced.

Sadbhawana Party Chair, Rajendra Mahato, underlined the continuing discrimination at the hands of the three major parties of the country against Madhes.

National Madhes Socialist Party Chairman, Sharat Singh Bhandari, warned that if the government holds the local level elections excluding the Province no 2, then no one will be able to hold elections there again.

At the same programme, Forum Republican Chair, Raj Kishor Yadav, Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chair, Anil Jha and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Chair, Mahendra Rao, said it would not be feasible to hold elections by keeping the demarcation issue on hold.

The senior Front leaders also insisted on forming a single strong party to fight for the rights of Madhes.

Five UDMF cadres were killed two weeks ago in police firing as they tried to disrupt the Mechi-Mahakali Campaign of CPN (UML).