Madhesi leaders said that the Tarai-centric parties would join the government once a new amendment proposal is registered in Parliament based on political consensus.

Madhesi leaders said that a joint panel comprising negotiators from the government and the Sanghiya Gathabandhan would be formed soon to prepare the draft of the amendment proposal.

Hridayesh Tripathi, vice-chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, said the agitating parties were hopeful that the amendment proposal would be registered by October-end.

“We will reach out to the opposition including the CPN-UML only after sorting out differences on the disputed issues of the constitution with the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre),” said Tripathi.

Madhesi leaders also defended the three-point agreement arguing that the accord should be viewed as a “strategic win” for the agitating parties. Madhesi rights activists and commentators have criticised the agreement for being “too vague”, arguing that there was no reference to the criteria of state demarcation, the main demand of the Madhesi parties. They claim that the agreement was merely a “face saver” for the Madhesi parties to join the government.

“Once the amendment proposal is registered, we will have the support of more than 360 parliamentarians to our agendas. This will also mount pressure on those opposed to our demands to support the amendment. We should consider the three-point agreement as our strategic win,” said Tripathi.

Madhesi leaders have refuted allegations that the Gathabandhan compromised on the political agendas due to the vested interests of some Madhesi leaders. They said the Gathabandhan allies are in no hurry to join the government.

“We have made it clear that we won’t join the government nor participate in the election unless we are assured that our demands are addressed in due course of time. Much will now depend on how the NC and the Maoist Centre present themselves [on the issue],” said Rajendra Shrestha, co-chairman of the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal. Shrestha said that the two ruling parties had proposed a parliamentary panel to settle the disputed constitutional issues.

Implementing deal with Madhesi parties top task, says Nidhi

Newly elected Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi, who played a key role in bringing PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba together to form an alliance, has instructed

officials to focus on implementation of the deal reached with the Madhes-based parties.

Dahal and Deuba signed a three-point deal with the agitating parties ahead of the prime minister’s election on Wednesday.

After assuming the office, Nidhi instructed senior Home Ministry and Nepal Police officials to prioritise the deals sealed with the Madhes-based parties for implementation.

Nidhi was a key interlocutor for forging the deal with the parties that

have been protesting against the new constitution for nearly a year. Besides addressing the technical and political demands of the Tarai parties, the ruling Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre) had agreed to form a panel to look into the atrocities carried out by the state forces during the Madhes agitation where 59 people were killed and dozens injured.

This government was formed on the foundation of agreements with the Madhes-based parties, said Nidhi, adding that it was urgent for the government to implement them as soon as possible.