KATHMANDU, April 28: The main opposition CPN-UML has accused the government of hatching a conspiracy to split Madhes from the hilly region using the upcoming local election as an opportunity to 'divide' the country. 

This accusation from the second largest party in parliament comes at a time when the parties are at odds over whether conducting the upcoming May 14 election in a single phase or hold it in two phases by increasing the number of local units in the southern plains. The ruling parties are said to be working to increase the number of local units and revising federal boundaries in their bid to bring the disgruntled Madhes-based parties on board the election process. 

“Serious conspiracies are being hatched to separate Madhes from the hills. The conspirators assume that the opposition parties won't oppose these wrong doings at the cost of making the elections happen,” said the UML chairperson KP Sharma Oli, addressing party cadres at a program organized at the party headquarters. 

Oli said that the plan to hold the election in phases - in the districts of the hilly region in the first phase and in the Madhesi-dominant southern plains in the second phase - was one of the 'designs' to divide and destabilize the country. 

“That's why they are holding the election in two phases against the earlier announcement to hold it in one go across the country,” Oli said, adding, “This change made in the eleventh hour is aimed at aimed creating political instability in the country instead of implementing the constitution.” 

Without taking names, Oli said some forces, which were dead against the promulgation of the new constitution, are trying their best to disrupt the elections. “They are trying to disrupt the election and invite political stalemate in the country,” said Oli.

He accused Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal of showing double standard. Stating that the decision to hold the election in two phases was made in the eleventh hour with the intent of not conducting it, Oli said the PM is increasing the number of local units in tarai ahead of the elections, keeping the opposition parties and other stakeholders in the dark. “When I asked him about the preparations being made to increase the number of local units and revise the federal boundaries, he dismissed it terming it mere 'rumors'. A day later, I came to know that the local authorities had been instructed to increase the number of local units,” said Oli, “It is a ploy to defer the elections for now, and separate Madhes from the hilly region in the long run.” 

 
• cpn-uml
 
• madhes
 
• conspiracy