Three major parties—the CPN (Maoist Centre), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—and the Sanghiya Gathabandhan, an alliance of Madhesi and Janajati forces, have agreed to expedite discussions to arrive at consensus on restructuring of the local bodies within next two weeks.

A meeting of the major stakeholders on Tuesday was held amid the preparations of the Local Body Restructuring Commission (LBRC), formed in March to determine number and borders of village councils, municipal councils and special, protected or autonomous regions, to submit its preliminary report.

As per the request of the erstwhile UML-led government, the LBRC had been working with a plan to present a preliminary report of the Local Level Restructuring Technical Assistance Committee (LTAC) on Wednesday (August 16). However, the LTAC failed to submit its report on time “due to complications”.

“The meeting decided to give 15 more days to the LTAC to submit its report,” said LBRC Coordinator Balananda Poudel. “The LBRC will finalise the report within 45 days after the LTAC submits its report.”

The LBRC has till mid-March to submit its report.

“The LBRC had asked the LTAC to submit its report one month before the deadline after the [erstwhile] government requested us to submit the report early in view of the urgency to hold local level elections,” said Poudel.

The erstwhile government had announced local level polls for November-December.

According to Maoist Centre Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal, the major forces, including the Gathabandhan, have also agreed to amend the LBRC’s terms of reference (ToR).

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had called on leaders for amending LBRC’s ToR to ensure timely local level elections. The new government is aiming to hold local level polls by March.

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Ganatantrik Chairman Rajkishor Yadav said the Gathabandhan has objections, in principle, not only to LBRC’s ToR but also to the entire process of its formation.

“Since changing the ToR is the prerogative of the government, the Gathabandhan has nothing to do with it,” he said.

Yadav, however, added that the Gathabandhan has taken PM Dahal’s efforts to initiate discussions among the major stakeholders, including the UML, as a positive move.

During Tuesday’s meeting, senior UML leader and former prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expressed doubts about timely elections.

In response, PM Dahal urged Nepal not to be sceptical of government’s commitment to hold polls.

Senior NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel was of the view that if number of local bodies were reduced as prescribed by the LBRC, it would be against the spirit of federalism and autonomy.