Kathmandu, June 9
The Rastriya Janata Party Nepal says it will not take part in the second phase of local level elections unless the constitution is amended to meet its demands.
Congratulating newly elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at the Parliament meeting today, a member of the RJPN’s presidium, Mahendra Raya Yadav said, “We are not ready yet to accept the constitution.”
“Let the government amend the constitution in line with a three-point agreement the ruling parties signed with us,” the leader explained, “Then only, we can go for the elections.”
Likewise, other demands put forward by the party including the increase in the number of local levels in Terai on the basis of population and withdrawal of cases filed against leaders and cadres of Madhesh-centric parties should also be met, he added.
“If these problems are not address and the RJPN does not take part in the elections,” he warned, “The elections will not get the legitimacy.”
“Therefore, the government and opposition should prepare a conducive environment for us to take part in the polls.”
Another RJPN leader Sarvendra Nath Shukla had also echoed Yadav.
He added that the government failed to include the constitution amendment in the priorities set in the first Cabinet meeting, raising doubts.
