With the Sanghiya Gathabandhan announcing tough protests against the local polls, the fate of the fresh constitution amendment proposal registered by the government with an aim to ensure the Madhes-based parties’ participation in the vote has become uncertain.

The proposal has got maturity in Parliament but it will not move forward if the alliance of the Madhesi and Janajati parties refuses to accept it, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Shankar Nayak said.

The government registered the new amendment proposal on April 11, after withdrawing the one already tabled in the House which had proposed redrawing the boundaries of Province 5.

Nayak claimed that the proposal includes every demand of Gathabandhan leader Upendra Yadav.

There may have been some minor changes in language while redrafting it but all the issues raised by the Gathabandhan representatives were incorporated in the proposal, he said.

“The government is always ready to hold talks with them and make corrections but they should accept the proposal first,” said Minister Nayak.

He added that the government was ready even to increase the number of local units in 11 districts of Provinces 2 and 5.

PM’s press adviser Govinda Acharya alleged that it was clear that the protesting parties are against federalism.

“Refusing to accept the proposal they prepared and also to discuss the issues of their concerns clarifies that they just want to fail federalism,” he said, adding that the government would press ahead with the scheduled polls. The door for dialogue, however, would be left open.

Nayak said Yadav had agreed during the negotiations to allow the central government to hold the local polls “for this time”.

The polls in the future could be held by the provincial governments. Maoist Centre leader Giriraj Mani Pokhrel said Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal still hoped the regional parties will come to the negotiating table.