Even as the Rastriya Janta Party-Nepal (RJP-N), a key coalition partner of Province 2 government, has decided to observe the Constitution Day as a black day, the Province 2 government has been making preparations to celebrate the day. However, the programmes to be held on the constitution day have not been finalised.

The province government—a coalition of RJP-N and Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum—has planned a tree plantation programme on the premises of Janakpur Cigarette factory that houses the province ministry offices to mark the day.  “We have only decided a tree plantation programme,” said Province 2 Chief Secretary Rajendra Man Singh. “Discussions are being held to decide other programmes.”

In the past two years, Both the Madhes-based political parties had marked the anniversary of the charter promulgation as a black day.  The constitution was promulgated on September 19, 2015, amid protests from the Madhesi community. However, both the parties—ruling partners of the Province 2 government—seem to be in a dilemma whether to mark the day with celebration or protest as they have supported the federal government.

The federal government has issued a circular to the provincial governments to celebrate the Constitution Day on Wednesday (September 19). The Province 2 government is preparing to mark the day by forming a main organising committee. “We are yet to form the organising committee,” said Secretary Singh. “The committee will finalise the programmes for the Constitution Day.” He said the Constitution Day should be observed as the provincial government was formed according to the provision of the charter.

However, the Rastriya Janta Party-Nepal (RJP-N), a key coalition partner of Province 2 government, has decided to stage protests in Madhes on the Constitution Day. Another Madhes-based party Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum has remained silent on the issue.

A meeting of RJP-N presidium held in Kathmandu on September 10-13 had deputed its ministers and state ministers to address the protest rallies in various places on the Constitution Day. The meeting had decided to organise protests against the Constitution Day to express its reservations over some provisions in the charter that it believes are against the Madhesi community.