Even as three major parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)— are getting down to narrowing down their differences on the contents of constitution writing
Even as three major parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)— are getting down to narrowing down their differences on the contents of constitution writing, a section of lawmakers from the ruling parties have been campaigning for a separate province for areas between Sarlahi and Nawalparasi districts.
The lawmakers from NC and UML are calling for a separate Bhojpura province, arguing that the region is culturally different from Mithila region, in reference to Janakpur. They have proposed Birgunj as the provincial capital.
The lawmakers involved in the campaign include Surendra Chaudary, Farmulla Mansur, Rajendra Amatya from Nepali Congress and Minister for Sports Purshottam Paudel and Ram Kumar Bhattarai.
Citing the cultural differences, NC lawmaker Chaudary said, “The Bhojpuri belt is different from Mithila in terms of language and culture, so we would like to maintain that distinction and not be clubbed together with Janakpur.” Instead of going to Janakpur, Chaudhary said, he prefers coming to Kathmandu.
Similarly, hinting at the possibility of countering the position of Madhes-centric parties for either one or two provinces, Minister Paudel said there was no basis for the claim. “They (Madhesi parties) have no real basis to demand one or two provinces. If there can be two, why can’t there be four?” said Paudel, who hails from Bara.
Asked about party’s position on the matter, he said that the party has not said no to the idea of Bhojpura province.
Even senior party office bearers of the ruling parties acknowledge the ongoing campaign, though they have been maintaining that the parties have official position on the matter. “This campaign could be a reflection of calls for accommodating diversity of Madhes such as Mithila, Bhojpura, Awadh and Tharu. Party has no official say regarding the campaign,” said UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali.
The campaign for Bhojpura province comes when the Madhes-centric parties are for a single autonomous Madhes province or dividing the region into two provinces at the most. The call for at least three provinces from the ruling party lawmakers also contradicts the official position of their parties to have two provinces in the Madhes.
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