Major parties have proposed to form an informal taskforce that includes representatives from the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) to narrow down differences on the disputed issues of the new constitution.

In a trilateral meeting held at Baluwatar on Sunday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli asked Morcha leaders for two names from their side for the taskforce. The major parties have appointed Mahesh Acharya of the Nepali Congress, Bhim Rawal of the CPN-UML and Krishna Bahadur Mahara of the UCPN (Maoist) to the panel.

SLMM leaders did not give a clear response to the proposal. The parties said they would clarify their position by Monday after an internal discussion. “There should be no further delay in finding a common position as we have less than 90 hours to forward the Amendment Bill. Let’s make a joint effort to prepare a common position on all the disputed issues instead of bringing up new problems,” Prime Minister Oli told Madhesi leaders, according to his Chief Political Advisor Bishnu Rimal.

Though the three parties had decided to form the taskforce last week, they blamed Morcha’s non-cooperation for the failure.

The three parties hope to take the Morcha into confidence before endorsing the Amendment Bill pertaining to electoral constituency delimitation and proportional and inclusive representation. It also plans to revise the federal boundaries through a high-level political committee in three months.

SLMM leaders doubt the willingness of the major parties to address their concerns. Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chair Mahantha Thakur said it would be futile to form another taskforce unless the major parties agree to solve the Madhes crisis in a package.

Commenting after the meeting, TMLP Vice-chairman Hridayesh Tripathi said the talks “were mere ritual” after the major parties failed to offer anything new for solving the crisis.

“Their position on disputed issues including the redrawing of federal boundaries is still unclear,” said Tripathi.

TMLP Chairman Thakur, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Joint-chairman Rajendra Shrestha and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party senior leader Ram Naresh Yadav attended the meeting.