Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has been seeking suggestions from the leaders of the agitating Madhesi Morcha on the draft of the constitution amendment proposal to finalise it before registering in Parliament.

Dahal had an hours-long discussion with Co-chairman of Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Rajendra Shrestha, who was a member of the informal taskforce formed to iron out the differences, and Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato in Baluwatar on Sunday evening. SSFN Chairman Upendra Yadav and leader Ashok Rai also participated in the discussion.

Sadbhawana Party Co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna confirmed the meeting. Leaders of the Madhes-based parties seemed positive on the draft of the amendment proposal as it was prepared after discussion with some key leaders of the Gathabandhan, including Karna and Shrestha. SSFN leader Shrestha said the government had drafted the proposal incorporating the issues that were discussed earlier.

Some leaders including Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party General Secretary Keshav Jha said the Morcha would join the polls if the amendments were endorsed by Parliament. Sadbhawana Chair Mahato said the PM has called a meeting with the Morcha leaders at 10am on Monday for consultation before finalising the proposal for tabling in the House.

However, PM Dahal has yet to seek suggestions of the CPN-UML leaders on the contents of amendment. Acting leader of UML Parliamentary Party Subas Nembang said the second largest party would not agree to the idea of stripping the people of their right on electing the President and the Vice President. Voting rights of the chiefs and deputy chiefs of the local federal units during the election of the Upper House must not be withdrawn, he said.

On the issues of amendment, the UML would make its views public only after studying the contents. Nembang said the main opposition party had not been informed about the official amendment proposal. He warned that the government may have a wrong perception that the UML will not object if the issue of redrawing the state boundaries, as proposed in the amendment bill tabled in Parliament, is withdrawn.

PM’s chief political adviser Chakrapani Khanal said Dahal was preparing to take the issues of amendment proposal to the Cabinet after agreement with the leaders of the Madhes-based parties on Monday.

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"The PM has called a meeting with the Madhesi Morcha leaders at 10am today for consultation before finalising the proposal for tabling in the House"

- Rajendra Mahato, chairman, Sadbhawana Party

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"The government may have a wrong perception that the UML will not object if the issue of redrawing the provincial boundaries is withdrawn"

- Subas Nembang, acting leader, UML PP