A day after the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha warned of severing ties with the ruling coalition, the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress on Sunday evening held talks with Madhesi leaders, once again, only to hear a new proposal from the Madhes-based parties.

The Morcha, which has taken serious exception to the government plan to announce dates for local elections, told the ruling alliance that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal should rather prepare for provincial and federal polls “as local elections could invite more crises”.

According to Rajendra Shrestha, co-chairman of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal, Morcha leaders at Sunday evening’s meeting apprised the governing coalition of their decision taken on Sunday afternoon and urged PM Dahal to taken a month or two to garner support for constitution amendment and prepare for provincial and federal polls.

PM Dahal, in response, is learnt to have told the Morcha that the proposal of other two polls was “a completely new idea” and that he had to hold talks with the main opposition CPN-UML before he could take any decision.  

A meeting of the Morcha earlier on Sunday decided to take “extreme measures” if the government moves ahead with local election plans. 

“Our position is clear: constitution amendment before local elections,” said Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato.

“The Morcha will give a fitting response if the government pushes for local polls without addressing our concerns.” Those maintaining hard-line stance in the Morcha say allowing the government to declare poll dates would diminish the possibility of constitution amendment. 

Some senior Madhesi leaders in negotiation with the governing CPN (Maoist Centre) and Nepali Congress said Morcha would let the government announce poll dates under one condition: the main opposition CPN-UML should give an assurance in writing that the constitution will be amended before elections.