Kathmandu, January 30
Nepal’s Prime Minister Puspha Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is holding marathon talks with major political forces today in his bid to announce dates for local-level elections on Tuesday.
A meeting between the leaders of the ruling alliance, including the chief figures of the Madheshi Morcha, began early on Monday with the agitating parties demanding that the government first get the constitution amendment bill passed, then talk about elections.
The meeting comes just two days after the Madheshi Morcha said it will organise anti-government demonstrations in the Terai, and will intensify protests if the government goes ahead with its plan to announce elections, without the Morcha’s consent.
According to a source close to Baluwatar, Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba, Forum Nepal chief Upendra Yadav and Sadbhawana president Rajendra Mahato held talks with the Prime Minister on Tuesday morning.
Dahal, who became Prime Minister in August 2016, is under pressure to announce dates for elections to meet the constitutional deadline to conduct elections at all levels by December 2018.
The Morcha wants the constitution amended to address its concerns regarding delineation of provincial boundaries and the formation of an electoral college for choosing members of the Upper House, before any elections can take place. However, the UML, the country’s principal opposition has said it will not allow the amendment to sail through Parliament. Prime Minister Prachanda’s alliance does have a two-third majority in Parliament, but the margin is slim and a vote on the amendment bill could go either way.
The Kamal Thapa-led RPP and Bijay Gachchhadar-led MJF, both members of the ruling alliance, have not owned up to the amendment bill. Sources say both Thapa and Gachhadar are demanding that they get the post of Deputy Prime Minister. Gachchhadar, however, has fallen out of favour with the Madheshi Morcha, and the alliance has told Prachanda he should not be inducted into the government.
Prime Minister Dahal is likely to announce election dates despite protests from the Madheshi Morcha, sources say. However, he is also likely to try to reach a compromise with the Morcha before doing so.
Meanwhile, Speaker Onsari Gharti has informed Prachanda that Parliament will pass all election-related Acts required for local polls, by Monday. This is also likely to spur Prachanda to announce elections on Tuesday.
