MJF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav tabled the state restructuring proposal based on ethnicity at the meeting of Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee (PDCC) on Sunday.

The MJF-N is a constituent of the 22-party alliance led by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. However, the alliance of opposition parties has not been able to forge a common ground on state restructuring model. The proposal comes at a time when the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have pushed for a joint proposal on contentious issues, including a seven-state model.

Proposing to federate the country into nine geographical provinces, the MJF-N has proposed a provision of changing the name and capital of state through two-thirds majority of a provincial assembly. The nine states proposed by the MJF-N are: Limbuwan, Kiranti, Tamsaling, Magarat, Newa, Narayani, Tamuwan, Madhes/Tarai, and Karnali/Khasan. The MJF-N has proposed Birgunj as the provincial capital of Madhes.

Likewise, the MJF-N has proposed VDCs and municipalities at local level under the province. The party has called for proportional electoral system and has proposed directly elected president as the executive head. The party maintains that term of both president and vice-president should be five years and that a person cannot stand for the same post more than two terms.

Proposing a bicameral federal system with a 151-member lower house and a 75-member upper house, the party also calls for membership of either house for an individual to be a Cabinet member. As for the judicial system, the MJF-N is making a pitch for establishing constitutional court, federal Supreme Court, provincial high court, local courts and special courts.

“The principle of nine-province model is based on the report of State Restructuring Commission. As for Madhes, we would like the previous agreements to be upheld,” said MJF-N chief Yadav.