UDMF agrees to participate in local polls

Published On: April 21, 2017 07:42 PM NPT By: Ashok Dahal  | @ashokpillar


KATHMANDU, April 21: The agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) has agreed to participate in the upcoming local elections while the ruling alliance agreed to revise the constitution amendment bill tabled in the parliament.

During a meeting between the ruling alliance and the UDMF at Prime Minister's official residence Baluwatar on Friday evening, the leaders from both sides forged an understanding on revising the constitution amendment bill and participating in the local polls.

The Baluwatar meeting has formed a taskforce to decide on the issues regarding the constitution amendment bill. The taskforce includes Rajendra Shrestha, the co-chair of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Laxman Lal Karna, the leader of newly unified Rastriya Janata Party, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, the Nepali Congress leader and Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Buddhiman Tamang.

The leaders have agreed to meet again on Saturday at 2 PM when the taskforce would present the idea on how the bill could be revised.

Following the meeting, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel informed that the leaders agreed to revise the constitution amendment bill focusing on the issues of language of official uses as well as provincial delineation while the UDMF leaders agreed to participate in the election.

"If the government and ruling coalition is ready to revise the constitution amendment bill registered in the parliament, we are also ready to participate in the elections. If we finalize everything regarding the amendment and the election, the election should be postponed for certain time or should be held in two phases," said FSFN co-chair Shrestha.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi said that the elections could be held in two phases if the agitating parties join the polls.


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