Kathmandu, June 11
The Rastriya Janata Party, formed around two months ago after a merger among six Madhesh-centric parties, on Saturday called the government to postpone the second phase of local level elections scheduled for June 28.
Ruling coalition leaders, however, rejected the request, raising doubts over the participation of the agitating party in the elections once again.
The RJPN leaders have warned that they cannot accept the polls unless the constitution is amended and the number of local levels is increased in the Terai region. Newly elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, however, has already clarified that the amendment is not possible before the polls.
He has been calling the party to participate in the polls and make them a success so that the opposition parties can also be taken into confidence for the amendment later.
But, the RJPN is yet to get registered with the Election Commission for the polls.
Two other major Madhesh-centric parties, the Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal led by Upendra Yadav and the Nepal Democratic Forum led by Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, however, have already started their preparations for the polls.
In this context, the polls will not be affected much even if the RJPN is adamant about the boycott, according to various sources.
