KATHMANDU, Dec 3: With locals in various mid-western districts stepping up protests against the constitution amendment bill, the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) are in a “wait and see” mood before taking any decision on their future course of action. 

Leaders close to the top leadership of NC and the Maoist Center said the two parties have now shelved their original plan to announce the date for local level elections as the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), for whose sake the amendment proposal was introduced, has also refused to own it. “There is a tacit understanding among the top leadership of both NC and the Maoists to see how the protests go in the next few days,” said a NC leader asking not to be named.

The leader also said should the efforts to forge consensus with the agitating Madhes-based parties fail,  fresh negotiations with the main opposition  UML will begin. 

The ruling NC and  Maoist Center  held a meeting with the agitating Madhes-based parties on Thursday to forge consensus on the amendment proposal tabled in Parliament. “But the way the agitating parties have set forth their demands, there is little chance of reaching any consensus with them. The amendment proposal is likely to fail,” a Maoist Center leader told Republica.

Among other things, the Madhes-based agitating parties have demanded that federal delineations be revised further to at least  ensure that the southern parts of Morang and Sunsari be included in Province 2 and the eastern part of Kailali in Province 5.  Among other things, they have also objected to the provision of giving more powers to the village councils.

 
• ruling parties
 
• constitution amendment
 
• wait and see mood