Madhes-based parties have warned the ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress parties against abandoning a push to amend the statute before local elections as political forces are polarised over revising the charter ahead of the proposed polls.

The calls from the regional parties to amend the constitution before polls come in the backdrop of the ongoing deliberation among three major parties to announce the election date. The governing parties on Wednesday reached an ‘understanding’ with the main opposition UML to announce the election date soon. 

The two sides are still at loggerheads over the constitution bill and resumption of the House. The UML and its allies in the opposition bench have been demanding a roll back of the bill for resumption of the House.

Madhesi leaders on Wednesday accused the ruling parties, particularly the NC, of “trying to use the amendment bill as a scapegoat to take the UML on the board the election processes”. 

“NC and UML are trying to repeat the same mistake committed by former king Gyanendra. This is a rehearsal to end historical achievements like federalism, republicanism, and secularism,” said Chairman of the Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) Upendra Yadav, warning of a strong retaliation from the Madhesi and other agitating groups if the elections were held under the existing circumstances. 

During a meeting with Madhesi leaders on Tuesday, the governing parties had agreed to table the amendment bill together along with poll-related bills in Parliament for discussion. But they ruled out the possibility of immediate amendment, citing lack of bipartisan support for the revision. The NC and the Maoist Centre had registered a bill on September 29 honoring a three-point accord signed with Madhes based parties before the formation of the government. 

While the Maoist Centre appears ready to buy more time to push the amendment bill through Parliament, the NC is against it. The NC urgency is understandable, as PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal would have to hand over the reins of the government to NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba as per ‘gentlemen’s understanding’ reached between the two leaders before forming the alliance. 

Deuba fears that further delays in holding the elections would prolong Dahal’s premiership. If the Dahal-led government dragged on without holding the elections till January 2018, it would invite a constitutional crisis, further diminishing Deuba’s chances of taking the hot seat. 

At a press meet at party office, Bijulibazar, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Vice-chairman Hridayesh Tripathi clarified that the regional parties would not support the elections under the current constitution. The ruling parties and the UML in opposition should support the amendment bill before going to the elections, he said. “The constitution should be amended with necessary revision before holding polls. We cannot support election unless that happens.” 

The NC leadership has proposed to endorse the amendment proposal soon after the local elections, but the Madhesi leaders remain unconvinced. They are apprehensive of the fact that the result of local polls might alter the political equation and priorities of the parties, making it more difficult to push the bill. “This [giving written commitment] is a typical Bahun trick to fool others. But we are not in a mood to take any more bad cheques,” said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato.