After Tuesday’s “serious talks” with three major parties failed to make any headway, the Sanghiya Gathabandhan has decided to launch protests in four provinces where the local polls have been scheduled for June 14.

As per the plan, the Gathabandhan led by Mahantha Thakur will organise protest meets in the major cities of Provinces 1, 2, 5 and 7 on May 12 and motorcycle rallies as protest against the government on May 15.

During the meeting held at Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s residence in Baluwatar, PM Dahal had briefed the Madhesi leaders about his efforts to garner a two-thirds majority in Parliament for endorsing the constitution amendment proposal.

“Due to the problem created by some lawmakers of the RPP, the government could not proceed with the proposal [earlier]. The UML also took a stiff position of not letting the amendments be endorsed from Parliament,” a leader quoted the PM as saying.

Gathabandhan leader Kumar Lingden said the PM told them that the government had got the support of 403 MPs for an earlier vote in the House but that could not be retained after the conflict in the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. “Wait till May 18. The government will proceed with the proposal,” Lingden quoted the PM as telling them.

Rastriya Janata Party Nepal leader Keshav Jha claimed that the CPN-UML was for allowing the House meeting only if the proposal would be defeated or else they were for disrupting the session of Parliament.

He said the Gathabandhan, however, was not hopeful that the ruling coalition could muster the required number of votes to endorse the amendment proposal. “As PM Dahal will hand over the reins to Deuba after May 14, the amendment process could be affected,” Jha said.

According to the PM’s secretariat, the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) would hold talks with the main opposition to finalise the issue of amendments in order for the Gathabandhan to participate in the second round of local polls.