In a bid to find consensus on announcing dates for civic polls, leaders of ruling parties and Madhesi Morcha held a meeting at Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s official residence in Baluwatar on Saturday, but ended without making any concrete decision.

During the meeting, Madhesi Morcha leaders warned that they would announce fresh protest programmes if the government fixed the local polls dates without amending the constitution.

PM Dahal, on the occasion, said that the country would plunge into grave crisis if the elections dates were not announced promptly.

He said that the constitution could be amended even after the announcement of elections.

Meanwhile, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahanta Thakur and Sanghiya Samajwadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, however, said that the relations between ruling parties and Madhesi Morcha would sour if the government announced the civic polls dates without amending the constitution.

Sadhbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party senior leader Hridayesh Tripathi and Forum Ganatantrik Chairman Raj Kishor Yadav warned that they would withdraw support extended to the government if polls dates were announced without addressing the demand.