The Madhes-based parties have demanded that the local boundaries be revised making population the sole basis for local body formation.

The regional parties, which have refused to take ownership of the Local Level Restructuring Commission (LLRC)’s report, claim that at least half of the total village and municipal councils should fall in the plains.

Madhesi leaders insist that the Tarai should get at least 350 village and municipal councils on the basis of population. In a report submitted to Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal Dahal last week, the LLRC has proposed 719 local units in the federal set-up.

The 1,700-page report proposes four metropolitan cities, 12 sub-metropolitan cities, 241 municipal councils and 462 village councils. Madhesi leaders say the proposal violates Articles 56 (4) and (5) and Article 295 (3) of the constitution.

“The LLRC did not adhere to the basic norms and values of state restructuring and federalism while redrawing the map of the local units. The recommendations cannot be supported,” said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato. TMLP leaders claim that the LRRC’s terms of reference called for formation of protected areas, autonomous zones and special areas.

Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur said there should be a package deal on the local boundaries. He said both the issues pertaining to boundaries and constitution amendment should be resolved before the elections.

“The parties should pass the amendment bill before elections and resolve other differences including the one on local boundaries,” said Thakur. The Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, did not take part in consultation meetings organised by the LLRC’s technical committees.

Madhesi parties insist that population should be the sole basis for carving out local units in the plains. The Tarai has 51 percent of the country’s population. Earlier, they had asked the government to put off the task of local level restructuring until the provincial boundaries are reviewed.