िनर्वाचन प्रक्िरया बारे बखेडा

लोकतन्त्र, गणतन्त्र, र संघीय सरकारबारे compromise हुँदैन। लोकतन्त्र भनेको एक व्यक्ित एक मत हो। मैले बुझेको पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन र माअोवादीले बुझेको पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन एउटै हो िक फरक फरक हो मलाई ठम्याउन गार्हो भएको छ।

नेपालको जनसंख्यामा को कित छन् भनेर कसरी िनर्क्यौल गिरएको छ? अिहलेको िमस्रीतको फर्मुलाले देशमा चुनावपिछ कमसेकम छ मिहना झगडा ल्याउँछ। ५०-५० बाट ६०-४० अथवा ७०-३० गए पिन िसद्धान्त त उही भयो, ५०-५० र ६०-४० मा िसद्धान्त त फरक भएन, ६०-४० मा गए पिन त्यो अिहले भने जस्तै िमस्रीत िनर्वाचन नै भयो। पुर्ण समानुपाितक भएन।

देशमा िनर्दल हुने िक बहुदल हुने भन्ने कुराको िनर्क्यौल compromise हुँदै होइन भने जस्तो। िक त िनर्दल हुन्छ िक त बहुदल हुन्छ। भोिल बन्ने संिवधान सभामा कित प्रितशत दिलत, मधेशी, मिहला र जनजाित हुने भन्ने कुरा अिहले सात पा्रटीले िनर्णय गर्ने कुरा नै होइन। त्यो िनर्णय त जनताले गर्ने हो।

नेपाल जस्तो सानो देशमा ६०१ जनाको पिन कहीं संसद हुन्छ? त्यत्रो िवशाल देश भारतमा त छैन ६०१ जनाको संसद। ६०१ जनाको संसद बनाउँ भनेर िनर्णय गर्नुले देखाउँछ राजनीितक पार्टीहरूलाई पारदर्शी, पार्टीहरूलाई अान्तिरक रूपले लोकतान्त्िरक, जनताप्रित िजम्मेवार बनाउने कसरत भइरहेको छैन। त्यो ६०१ बाट झरेर २४० अथवा ३०० मा पुग्न िनतान्त अावश्यक छ। मुख्य कुरा हो ती ३०० जना जनताले छानेका हुन् िक होइनन्। ३०० भन्दा ६०० जनाले जनताको बढी राम्रो प्ितिनिधत्व गर्न सक्ने भन्ने कुरा होइन।

अिहेलेको िमस्रीत त हुँदै हुँदैन। २४० प्रत्यक्ष िनर्वाचनकालािग िनर्वाचन क्षेत्र िनर्धारण गर्दा अर्को बबण्डर हुन्छ। पिहला एक मिहना संसद बन्द भएथ्यो, अब दुई मिहना देश बन्द हुन्छ।

प्रधानमन्त्रीले मनोिनत गर्ने कुरा कसले सोंचेको हो? त्यो त सामन्ती सोंच हो। राजाको सट्टा प्रधानमन्त्री मन्िदर जान थाले जस्तै अब राजाको सट्टा प्रधानमन्त्रीले सांसद मनोिनत गर्ने परम्परा बसाल्ने प्रयास हो यो? र त्यो मनोिनत गर्ने प्रधानमन्त्री िगिरजालाई नै बनाउने षडयन्त्र हो। चुनाव हुनु अगािड नै चुनावपिछ प्रधानमन्त्री को हुने भन्ने कुरा िनर्णय भइिदने हो भने त्यो त चुनाव नै भएन। त्यो त पञ्चायतमा हुन्थ्यो। चुनाव भए पिन राजाको गद्दी सुरक्िषत नै रािखन्थ्यो। दुई ितहाइ बहुमतले मात्र प्रधानमन्त्री फाल्न पाउने प्रावधान संिवधान संशोधन गरेर फाल्नुपर्ने हुन्छ। नत्र चुनावमा जानुको के अर्थ भयो र? प्रधानमन्त्री भनेको जिहले पिन जहाँ पिन साधारण बहुमतबाट बन्छ र फािलन्छ। र त्यो प्रधानमन्त्रीले संसदमा कसैलाई मनोिनत सनोिनत गर्ने होइन।

सबैभन्दा गडबड िमस्रीतिभत्रको समानुपाितकको फर्मुलामा छ। दिलतलाई १२%, मधेशीलाई ३१%, जनजाितलाई ३७%, कर्णालीलाई ५%, र अन्यलाई ३१% र प्रत्येकमा मिहलालाई ५०% भन्िदया छ। यो मैले नबुझेको फर्मुला पर्यो। र यो फर्मुला बुझेको मान्छे मैले अाजसम्म भेंटेको छैन।

जम्मा प्रितशत जोड्दा ११६ हुन्छ। प्रितशत भन्ने शब्द त प्रत्येक १०० भनेको हो, प्रत्यके ११६ भनेको होइन। भनेपिछ भोिल गएर चुनाव भइ सकेपिछ मधेशीलाई झारेर ३१% बाट १५% मा पुर्याउने षडयन्त्र होइन भनेर कसरी भन्ने?

दिलतको १२% मा ६% मधेशी दिलत हुनुपर्ने िकन नभिनएको? ती १२% नै पहाडी दिलत राखे समस्या परेन? जनजाित ३७% मा थारूलाई पिन िमसाइएको हो? थारु भनेका त मधेशी हुन्। ितनलाई मधेशी समुहमा रािखनुपर्छ। अन्य जुन भिनएको छ, त्यो बाहुन, क्षेत्री, नेवारलाई भिनएको होला। िगिरजा मार्का बाहुनहरू तराईमा पिन बसेका छन्। ती पिन त्यसमा पर्ने भए।

भने पिछ अिहलेको पहाडी षडयन्त्रकारी जनगणनालाई नै पिन मान्ने हो भने मधेशी ३१%, मधेशी दिलत ६%, थारू मधेशी ७% गर्दा ४४% पुग्छ। मधेशी भनेका नेपालमा ४४% छन् भन्ने कुरा त्यसैबाट पिन छर्लङ हुन्छ। तर वास्तवमा त्यो प्रितशत त्यो भन्दा बढी छ जुन िक अर्को जनगणनामा देिखनेछ। तर मानौं ११६ लाई १०० मा पुर्याइयो हरे। मधेशीमा थारु पिन िमलाएर ३५%, जनजाित २८%, दिलत १०%, कर्णाली २%, र अन्य २६%। २४० समानुपाितकबाट अाउने भिनयो ह रे। िमस्रीतमा जाने हो भने त्यो संख्या २४० अथवा ३४० हुनुमा खासै फरक छैन। ३४० भन्दा २४० नै राम्रो।

२४० को ३५% भनेको ८४ मधेशी, २४० मा २८% भनेको ६७ जना जनजाित, २४० मा १०% भनेको २४ जना दिलत जसमा १२ जना मधेशी दिलत भनेर िकटान गर्नैपर्ने हुन्छ नत्र भने डोम दुसाद मुसहर गायब र सब िवकहरू नै अाइपुग्लान्। ५ जना कर्णाली। ६२ जना अन्य।

अब त्यो ८४ मधेशी, ६७ जनजाित , २४ दिलत, ५ कर्णाली, र ६२ बाहुन, क्षेत्री, ठकुरी, नेवार कसरी पुर्याउने चुनावका अाधारमा? मानौ िनम्न पार्टी छन्: काँग्रेस, एमाले, माअोवादी, फोरम १, फोरम २, सद्भावना १, सद्भावना २, जनजाित पार्टी १, जनजाित पार्टी २। Right to peaceful assembly मानव अिधकार हो। मधेशी पार्टी पिन खोल्न पाइन्छ, जनजाित पार्टी पिन खोल्न पाइन्छ, दिलत पार्टी पिन खोल्न पाइन्छ। मानव अिधकारलाई उल्लंघन गरेर कुनै कानुन बनाउन पाइँदैन। दिलत पार्टीले १२% भोट ल्याएमा अरू पार्टीले दिलत सांसद नै नराख्ने हो िक? ८४ जना मधेशी कुन कुन पार्टीबाट अाउने? फोरम र सद्भावनाले नै ८४ मधेशी ल्याएमा काँग्रेसले अाफुले पाएको मधेशी भोट बेवास्ता गर्न पाउने हो िक?

कमसेकम कित प्रितशत मत ल्याउनु पर्ने हो कुनै पिन पार्टीले? ढाइ प्रितशत मत ल्याउने पार्टी सबैले भाग िलन पाउने त होला िन? कुनै पार्टीले ३% ल्याए उसको अाधा प्रितशत मत के हुने? यस फर्ंमुलामा त िक ढाइ, िक ५, िक साढे सात, िक १० ल्याउनुपर्यो। तीन, सात ल्याउनेलाई त केही मुश्िकल पर्छ।

प्रत्येक ठुलो पार्टीले ८४ मधेशी, ६७ जनजाित , २४ दिलत, ५ कर्णाली, र ६२ बाहुन, क्षेत्री, ठकुरी, नेवार भएको िलस्ट िनर्वाचन अायोगमा िदनुपर्ने हो? सानो पार्टीले िन? अिन फोरम र सद्भावना जस्ता क्षेत्रीय पार्टीले के गर्ने? कस्तो िलस्ट पेश गर्ने? िलम्बु पार्टीले िन?

मानौ साना र क्षेत्रीय पार्टी नै छैनन्। काँग्रेस, एमाले र माओवादी मात्र छन्। ितनले त्यो िलस्ट पेश गर्दा कुन रूपमा गर्ने? प्रत्येक जातको एक जना राख्िदन्छु भनेर जनजाितलाई पौडेल बाहुनले िदएको वाचा कुन पार्टीले पुरा गर्ने? काँग्रेसले? एमालेले त त्यो वाचा गरेको छैन त। मधेशीमा थारु पिन िमलाएर ३५%, जनजाित २८%, दिलत १०%, कर्णाली २%, र अन्य २६%। मानौं काँग्रेसले २०%, एमालेले २२% र माअोवादीले १६% मत ल्यायो र ४२% मत दुई फोरम, दुई सद्भावना, र अन्य मधेशी र जनजाित पार्टीहरूमा बाँिडयो। अिन त्यसपिछ के हुन्छ? जाबो िनर्वाचन प्रक्िरयामा एक हुन नसकेका पार्टी सीट बाँडफाँडमा एक हुन्छन् भन्ने नसोंचे पिन हुन्छ। अिहलेको political paralysis त केही पिन होइन। अिहले भिनएको िमस्रीत अनुसार िनर्वाचन भयो भने त्यसपिछ यस्तो िवकराल political paralysis पैदा हुन्छ िक त्यसको बयान गर्न सिकन्न।

िनर्वाचन गराउनै नसिकने फर्मुला तेर्सयाएर िगिरजा र िगिरजा मार्का बाहुनहरूले देशमा किहले पिन िनर्वाचन नै नहोस् र हामी अिहले जस्तै िबना िनर्वािचत नै सत्तामा बिसराखौं भन्न खोजेको हो। भर्खर िगिरजाको न्युज अाएको छ, दिलतलाई पर्याप्त मनोिनत गर्ने अाश्वासनको रूपमा। त्यो दिलतलाई िगिरजा बाहुनले अाश्वासन िदएको होइन। त्यो िगिरजा बाहुनले िगिरजा बाहुनलाई अाश्वासन िदएको हो। चुनवापिछ पिन म नै प्रधानमन्त्री हुने ग्यारण्टी गरेको हो।

कसैले नबुझेको िन्रवाचन प्रक्िरयामा देशलाई होम्नु भनेको राजाको नगर िनर्वाचनभन्दा ठुलो बबण्डर हुन्छ। अिहलेको एक मात्र उपाय र िनकास भनेको दलीय अाधारको पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन हो। काँग्रेसको िमस्रीत पिन काम लाग्दैन, माअोवादीको जातीय समानुपाितक पिन काम लाग्दैन। संिवधान संशोधन गरेर चुनावपिछ साधारण बहुमतको सरकार र दुई ितहाई बहुमतको संिवधान भन्ने। त्यसपिछ सीट संख्या तोक्ने। म त भन्छु २४० जम्मा। अिन दलीय अाधारको पुर्ण समानुपाितक जसमा एउटा मात्र िनयम हुने, प्रत्येक दलको िलस्टमा कमसेकम प्रत्येक तेस्रो नाम मिहला हुनुपर्ने। दिलत, जनजाित, मधेशी पार्टी पिन खोल्न पाइन्छ भनेर कानुन पास गर्नै पर्दैन। सब कानुन र संिवधानको बाप भनेको मानव अिधकारको घोषणापत्र हो, र त्यसले नै प्रदान गरेको छ त्यो अिधकार। त्यो right to peaceful assembly नेपालका बाहुनहरूले खोस्न चाहेर पिन खोस्न पाउने कुरा होइन त्यो।

अािदवासी जनजाित महासंघले प्रत्येक जाितको कमसेकम एक जना संिवधान सभामा भनेर जुन माग गरेथ्यो त्यो पौडेल बाहुनसँग माग्ने कुरा नै होइन। अािदवासी जनजाित महासंघले पार्टी खोल्ने, त्यस पार्टीले अाफ्नोे पार्टीको िलस्टमा प्रत्येक जाितको कमसेकम एक जना राख्ने अिन जनताकोमा जाने।

माअोवादीले जातीय अाधारमा पुर्ण समानुपाितक भनेर िचच्याइरहेको छ। भोिल काँग्रेस र एमालेले अा-अाफ्नो िलस्टमा पिहलो २०% सब बाहुन बाहुन राख्ने हो भने अवश्य पिन राख्न पाउँछ। २०% भन्दा बढी मत त कुनै पिन पार्टीले पाउने छाँटकाँट छैन। भने पिन काँग्रेस र एमालेबाट िजत्ने सब बाहुन हुने भए। माअोवादीलाई त्यो मन पर्दैन उसले अाफ्नो िलस्टमा पिहलोे २०% नाम टन्न दिलत, जनजाित र मधेशी िलएर जाअोस्, अरू पार्टीले ३३% मिहला उठाउँछन् भने माअोवादीले ४०% मिहला उठाअोस्। त्यो हो तिरका। तिरका भनेको जनतामा जाने हो। काँग्रेसले बाहुन मात्र उठाउने भए, एमालेले बाहुन मात्र उठाउने भए भनेर माअोवादीले दुख मान्ने गर्नुभएन, बरू खुसी हुनुपर्यो, बल्ल ियनीहरूलाई बाहुनवादी पार्टी भनेर जनताकोमा भन्न पाइयो, ियनीरूले पिहला पाउने गरेको जनजाित र दिलत भोट हामीले पाउने भयौं भनेर माअोवादी खुसी पो हुनुपर्यो।

सत्ता र संसदमा नरहेका मधेशी र जनजाित पार्टीहरू यस वादिववादमा सरीक हुनैपर्छ। जातीय समानुपाितक को कुरा गर्ने जनजाित नेताहरू बाहुनका दास हुन्। बाहुनसँग िभक्षा मािगरहेका छन्। माग्ने भनेको दलीय पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन प्रक्िरया हो। खोल्ने भनेको अाफ्नै पार्टी हो।

पिहलो अान्दोलन नै दलीय पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन प्रक्िरयाकालािग हुन्छ। त्यहाँ नपुगेसम्म बाहुनहरूले चुनाव गराउनेवाला छैनन्। दुई पटक सािर सके। फेिर पिन सार्छन्। दक्िषण अफ्िरकामा सात व्रष लागेथ्यो भनेर भन्न थािलसके बाहुनहरू। नेपालमा त दुई वर्ष पिन भएको छैन।

माअोवादीले पिन दलीय पुर्ण समानुपाितकको लाइन समात्नुपर्यो। जम्मा सीट संख्या २४० पुर्याउने र चुनावपिछ साधारण बहुमतको सरकार, दुई ितहाइ अथवा ६०% बहुमतको संिवधान भनेर िकटान हुने गरी संिवधान संशोधन हुनुपर्यो। त्यो एजेण्डामा माअोवादी, एमाले, मधेशी, जनजाित एक हुने हो भने काँग्रेसको केही लाग्दैन।

पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन िवरूद्धका कुतर्कहरु
पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचनकालािग िगिरजालाई कसरी घुँडा टेकाउने?
पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचनकालािग मधेशी, जनजाित, दिलतले अान्दोलन गर्नुपर्छ
पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन अौर एक मधेश एक प्रदेशका नारा पर्याप्त है
एक मात्र िमलनिवन्दु: पुर्ण समानुपाितक िनर्वाचन

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"क्षेत्रीय दलको अवधारणापत्र र विधान मैले नै लगेर दिएको हु“," गुप्ता भन्छन्, "म क्षेत्रीय दलको प्रमोटर हु“ । अहिले पनि इनपुट दिइरहेको छु ।" ....... एमाले, काङ्ग्रेस र सद्भावनाका गरी झन्डै १५ नेता तथा सांसदहरूबीच यतिखेर क्षेत्रीय दलमा जाने विषयमा कुराकानी भइरहेको स्रोत बताउ“छ । त्यसमा काङ्ग्रेसका विजय गच्छदार, जयप्रकाश गुप्ता, हरनिारायण चौधरी, लक्ष्मण मेहता, एमालेका रघुवीर महासेठ, रामप्रीत पासवान, दानबहादुर चौधरी, जगदीश साह र सद्भावना पार्टर्ीी गोविन्द चौधरी आदि छन् । ........ स्वयम् प्रधानमन्त्री कोइराला आशङ्कामुक्त छैनन् । मङ्सिर २६ गते साना वामपन्थी दलका नेताहरूस“गको भेटघाटमा उनले विदेशी शक्तिहरूले नेपालमा आफ्नो प्रभुत्व जमाउनका लागि प्रतिस्पर्धा गररिहेको मात्रै उल्लेख गरेनन्, माले महासचिव सीपी मैनालीस“ग त ठाकुरसहितका मधेसी नेताहरूले विदेशीकै 'इन्टे्रस्ट' मा सरकार, संसद् र पार्टर्ीीट राजीनामा दिएको हुनसक्ने आशङ्का पनि व्यक्त गरे । ....... "महन्थ मैले विश्वास गरेको मान्छे, मलाई पत्तो नदिई मन्त्री पद छाड्यो, पार्टर्ीीाड्यो । यसको अर्थ के हो -" प्रधानमन्त्री कोइरालाले माले महासचिव मैनालीलाई भनेका थिए । ...... "जात र भूगोलका आधारमा पार्टर्ीीठन गर्नु राम्रो होइन," मङ्सिर २६ गते जनकपुरमा आयोजित मधेसी राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चाको घोषणासभामा माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डले भने, "संसद्मै आवाज उठाउन सकिने परििस्थति हु“दाहु“दै पछि हट्नु भनेको समथिङ् इज हिडन ।" .............. "भारतले चलखेल गरी आफ् नो स्वार्थ पूरा गर्न स्वायत्त मधेसको मागलाई उपयोग गरी नेपालमा अन्योल, अस्िथरता र अनिश्चितता पैदा गरििदएको छ," नेमकिपाका अध्यक्ष बिजुक्छेको भनाइ थियो, "मधेसी मन्त्री र सांसदको यो राजीनामास“गै तर्राईमा झन् बढी भा“डभैलो मच्चिने छ ।" जनमोर्चाका अध्यक्ष्ँ अमिक शेरचनले पनि मधेसी मूलका मन्त्री र सांसदको राजीनामालाई सुनियोजित ढङ्गबाट आएको टिप्पणी गरेका छन् । ......... प्रधानमन्त्री कोइरालाले 'भारतस“ग छलफल गरेर तर्राईको समस्या एक मिनेटमा नै समाधान गरििदन्छु' भनी दिएको अभिव्यक्ति र माओवादी अध्यक्ष प्रचण्डले तर्राईमा नेपाली सेना र उनीहरूको जनमुक्ति सेना संयुक्त रूपमा परचिालन गर्नुपर्ने भनाइ आएपश्चात् मधेसी नेताहरूको घोषणा आउनु ........... सांसद गुप्ता भन्छन्, "यो न त विदेशी उक्साहटमा हो न विखण्डनका लागि नै हो ।" ......... कतिपय मधेसी समुदायका नेताहरूचाहि“ आफ्नो निर्वाचन क्षेत्रमा आधार समाप्त भएको देखेर नै मधेसी सांसदहरू क्षेत्रीय दलको बाटोमा गएको बताउ“छन् । ....... शान्तिपर्ूण्ा राजनीति गररिहेका आधा दर्जन क्षेत्रीय दल र मोर्चाहरू अहिले मधेसमा क्रियाशील छन् । सद्भावना आनन्दीदेवी, नेपाल सद्भावना पार्टर्ीीमधेसी जनअधिकार फोरम, व्रि्रोही मधेसी जनअधिकार फोरम पार्टर्ीीे रूपमा छन् । ......... भाग्यनाथ गुप्ताको अध्यक्षतामा रहेको व्रि्रोही फोरमले चाहि“ तर्राईमा रहेका विभिन्न ११ संस्थाहरू सम्मिलित बृहत् मधेसी राष्ट्रिय मोर्चाको निर्माण गरेको छ । माओवादीको मधेसी राष्ट्रिय मुक्ति मोर्चा र एमालेको मधेसी लोकतान्त्रिक सङ्गठन पनि मधेसमा क्रियाशील छन् । ......... विश्वास मधेसमा एउटै दल वा मोर्चा निर्माण असम्भवजस्तै भएको बताउ“छन् । उनी क्षेत्रीय दल गठनकै कुराले पनि त्यतिसारो उत्साहित छैनन् । "कथित मधेसका व्यक्तित्व भनिने अन्य राजनीतिक दलका व्यक्तिहरू नै सम्भावित क्षेत्रीय दलमा गएका छन्," उनी भन्छन्, "त्यस दलको अग्रसरता देखाएका महन्थ ठाकुर र हृदयेश त्रिपाठी त माघमा मधेस आन्दोलन हु“दा मन्त्री थिए ।" ........ तर्राईमा आन्दोलनरत सशस्त्र समूहहरूको सङ्ख्या झन्डै दर्ुइ दर्जन पुग्न लागिसकेको छ । ...... संविधानसभामा जनताले व्यक्तिलाई भोट दिने होइन, सिद्धान्तलाई भोट दिने हो । त्यसैले, समानुपातिक निर्वाचन प्रणालीमा जानर्ुपर्छ । ....... सेना परचिालन गरेर एक जना मात्रै मारयिोस् त देशको विखण्डन गर्ने त्यही व्यक्ति बन्छ । ........ र्सलाही काङ्ग्रेसका सभापति वासुदेवशरण कोइराला ....... यो कुनै मनोरञ्जनका लागि चालिएको कदम होइन । ...... यथार्थमा मधेस आन्दोलनमा जनता अघि र नेता पछि परेका छन् । ........ हाम्रो आन्दोलनले एक महिना चार दिन संसद् प्रभावित भयो । त्यहीबीचमै एउटा सशक्त राजनीतिक सङ्गठनको आवश्यकता महसुस भएको हो । ....... हामीले नया“ दल खोल्न लागेपछि मधेसलाई अधिकार दिनुको साटो प्रधानमन्त्रीले दक्षिण एसियाका धेरैजसो नेताहरूले बोल्ने 'विदेशी शक्ति' भनेर आन्दोलनलाई बदनाम गराउन खोजेका छन् । अझ प्रचण्डले त दुवै सेना -नेपाली सेना र माओवादी छापामार) परचिालन गर्ने बताएर झस्काइदिएका छन् । किनभने, दुवै सेनामा मधेसी छैनन् । मधेसका सबै मुद्दाहरू राजनीतिक रूपमा समाधान हुनर्ुपर्छ भन्ने हाम्रो धारणा हो । तर, सैन्य समाधान भनेपछि हामीले न राज्य, न त सरकार न राजनीतिक दलहरूलाई विश्वास गर्न सक्ने स्िथति रहन्छ । सैन्य समाधान खोज्दै जाने हो भने त जे पनि हुनसक्छ । ........ समग्र मधेस एक स्वायत्त प्रदेश, हाम्रो माग हो । राज्यको हरेक अङ्गमा समानुपातिक प्रतिनिधित्व र सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र अहिलेको आवश्यकता हो । ...... हामीले राजनीतिक दलको आकार लिइसकेपछि तर्राईका अन्य समूहस“ग कसरी अघि बढ्ने भन्ने निर्क्याेल हुनेछ । हामी शान्तिपर्ूण्ा राजनीतिमा विश्वास गर्र्छौं । सशस्त्र समूहहरू, सात राजनीतिक दल र माओवादीप्रतिको धारणा पनि हामी पछि र्सार्वजनिक गछौर्ं ।

House to open debate on statute amendment bill Wednesday NepalNews The bill seeks amendment in the Article 33 (Ka) of the interim statute, incorporating Chaitra-end (mid-April 2008) deadline for constituent assembly election. Maoists won’t give up demand for PR system: Prachanda He argued that the resignation of four Madhesi lawmakers was an indication of foreign powers trying to put a price on Nepal's parliament. ...... he said the party would soon launch “return to the village” campaign to improve party’s relation with the people. The four-month-long campaign
NC, Maoists hold bilateral talks
PM Koirala promises polls by mid-April next year
Minister Nepal for integration of PLA into NA before polls "If the Maoist PLA is integrated into the national army before the constituent assembly election then there would be no problem [in holding it] as the Maoists would not be able to shy away from the election on any excuses”
'DV victims’ stage dharna in front of MoFA DV Victims Association Nepal .... a group of people who won the DV lottery but were denied US visas for failing to produce necessary documents. ..... More than 1,100 Nepali citizens received immigrant visas to the US through the 2007 DV lottery programme this year ..... More than 7,800 Nepalis have already immigrated to the US through this programme since 2001.
'Maoists engaging in conspiracy against CA' Nepali Congress general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi has accused the Maoists of ‘engaging in conspiracy’ to not let the election to Constituent Assembly (CA) take place by putting forth the proposal of roundtable conference.
Maoists can't go for CA election with their fighting squad: Nepal "A political party should not retain a standing army or armed combatants" ..... hold the election by mid-April next year, it will only be possible after management of Maoist combatants is complete.
Petroleum dealers announce fresh stir
JTMM-Goit wants unity in action with rebelling Madhesi MPs He said that the JTMM-G was ready for similar cooperation with Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal Sadbhavana Party but not with its splinter JTMM-Jwala Singh.
Govt tables motion for amendment in interim statute
YCL seizes 15 ton red sandalwood from the outskirts of Kathmandu, Wednesday morning and have handed it over to the forest department. ..... Last week on Wednesday cops had seized 10 ton red sandalwood from Lalitpur district on a tip-off by the YCL. ..... The smugglers were preparing to take the red sandalwood to China where it is used in traditional medicines and is believed to cure many diseases. In the black market the per kilo of red sandalwood fetches up to Rs 2500.

Hridayesh Tripathi Kantipur Interview

INTERVIEW WITH HRIDAYESH TRIPATHI Hridayesh Tripathi is one of the lawmakers and influential Madheshi leaders who recently quit parliament and the major parties including the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist and Rastriya Prajatantra Party to form a new party in the Terai region. In a recent interview with ekantipur, he shared the reasons behind the decision to launch a new regional party to be led by former NC leader Mahantha Thakur, its demands and future moves. Excerpts:

Q. What’s the rationale behind the decision to set up a new regional party in Terai?

Hridayesh Tripathi: The three major parties—the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist— not only failed to address the problems of Madhesh, but also completely failed to comprehend them. The government, the state and parliament, too, have proved ineffective in this regard. Similarly, the achievements of the last Madhesh revolt, too, were not commensurate with the sacrifice made by the Madheshi people. This was chiefly because of the lack of a proper and mature leadership. As a result, only minimal gains could be achieved since the revolt was not organised. Even today, Terai lacks a strong party with clear political agendas. Most importantly, the mindset of the state to opt for a military solution or the use of force to tackle the Madhesh problems stirred us to take this decision.

Q. How can you say for sure that the state is mulling over using force to tackle the problems in the Terai region?

Tripathi: I am not making a guess when I am saying that the state is thinking of using force to suppress the Madhes problems. The government’s recent move to deploy the Armed Police Force (Special Task Force) in seven Terai districts clearly proves that the state wants a solution through the use of force. Similarly, Maoist Chairman Prachanda (addressing the anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army at Maoist cantonment in Chitwan) recently said that the Nepal Army and the Maoist People’s Liberation Army should be jointly mobilised in Terai. These developments are going to invite a big accident in the region. Similarly, a few things that transpired during and after the Madhesh revolt early this year have really moved us. I want to narrate some of them here to show how insensitive the state and the major parties are. Of the 42 people who died during the Madhesh revolt, only one had succumbed to bullets fired by the Maoists. All others were killed in police firing. But the state has not even bothered to declare any one of them a martyr while all 22 people killed during the April uprising were declared martyrs. This shows the state practices discrimination not only against the living Madhesi people but also the dead. Yet another ordeal: Six Madheshi people, who were severely injured during the agitation had been referred to a hospital in Kathmandu for treatment. But the Young Communist League cadres entered the hospital premises and terrorised them. The injured people seeking treatment in the capital were so terrified that they requested us to take them to a hospital in India. Such incidents have reinforced our conviction that a new political force should be established to push for the cause of the Madheshi people. But at the same time we are also mindful of the fact that the agitation must remain peaceful and under control of responsible political leaders.

Q. So you want the agitation in Terai to be well under your control?

Tripathi: Yes. The people had led the last revolt and the leaders had rallied behind. Hence, it could not yield the desired results.

Q. Speculations have been doing rounds that the leaders of the major parties, especially PM Koirala himself, had been trying to set up a new Madheshi party so that the agitation in the region does not spiral out of control. Is your recent move part of the plan? Tripathi: No, the Prime Minister is not at all involved in this. In fact, to destabilise the country. the major parties have become paranoid. They are desperately trying to defame us and our initiative. The Prime Minister has alleged that we took the step at India’s behestThey are simply infuriated by our move. Moreover, why would any party empower us by weakening itself? We have taken this step being responsible. Forget a separatist movement; we are not even talking about any special rights to the Madheshi people. All we are demanding is an equal right. But the state remains insensitive to the just demands of the Madheshi people.

Q. What are your demands?

Tripathi: As I mentioned before, all we demand is equal rights to the Madhesh. A proportional representation based on population. Now you may say that the state has already agreed to it. Yes, there is a constitutional provision to ensure this right. But what is happening in practice? I want to cite an example to prove my point. Recently, the government came up with an Act to ensure reservation for the Madhesi people in the police force only after a massive recruitment of police personnel. Till date, there is no representation of the Madheshi people in the Nepal Army. The same applies to the Maoist army too. And what is happening in the civil service? A lot of secretaries were appointed only a few days back. Only two of them hailed from Madheshi communities. The state wants to give our rights in credit, but we are demanding in cash. The major parties still seem reluctant to a true restructuring of the state. They are pushing for a proxy representation. The Reservation Act aims to overshadow the demand for a proportional representation. Some of them are arguing that federalism could lead to the disintegration of the nation. But we see that national disintegration is inevitable if the state is not restructured along the federal lines. Prachanda is now saying that the true state restructuring means integration of two armies. But we are not going to settle for anything less than a proportional representation in all organs of the state and a complete restructuring of the state to guarantee our rights.

Q. Do you also want the entire Terai as a single autonomous state?

Tripathi: Yes, that’s our demand but the Madheshi people have the final right to decide the number of states in Terai. Here I would also like to mention that the Madheshi people are completely opposed to a separatist movement.

Q. While the major parties have opposed your move, the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum and some armed groups in the Terai acted promptly to welcome it. Co-chairman of the Rastriya Janshakti Party, Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, too, has written an article welcoming your move. What are we to make out of it?

Tripathi: Any wise person or group that understands our rationale has hailed our move. But one cannot do anything with those who have ill intentions.

Q. The Madheshi leaders’s decision to quit parliament and their parties came like a bolt from the blue. But it wasn’t at all a decision taken in haste, was it?

Tripathi: Yes, you guessed it right. It all started in the build up to the Madhesh revolt shortly after the interim constitution was promulgated. The NSP-A had even written a note of dissent against the discriminatory provisions in the constitution. The Madhesh revolt started after a month. The fringe parties in the Seven-Party Alliance had appealed to the major parties to address the problems immediately. But the appeal apparently fell on a deaf ear. Then I resigned from the cabinet. Only then was an emergency meeting of the SPA convened. The Prime Minister then pledged to give some concessions in two installments (two addresses to the nation within a few days span). The MPs and leaders from Terai met several times and finally the decision to launch a new party was reached.

Q. When will the new party be launched?

Tripathi: Very soon.

Q. Could you be more specific?

Tripathi: The party will be formed within two weeks.

Q. Has the new party’s name been decided?

Tripathi: Not yet. We are brainstorming for a name at the moment. It would be finalised within the next few days.

Q. What about the party’s hierarchy?

Tripathi: So far, we have agreed that Mahanta Thakur will be our leader.

Q. What about your status in the party?

Tripathi: We are yet to work out the other posts in the party.

Q. Who else are going to join you? Could you name some other Madhesi leaders?

Tripathi: I don’t want to divulge their names them right now. They are under constant surveillance following our move. When we approached some of the influential Madheshi leaders from the major parties, they said that they supported our cause. They did not want us to meet them at their residences. They want to meet us secretly. They are also being lured with all sorts of promises. The major parties are also talking about reallocation of the ministerial portfolios to stop them from joining us. All I can say right now is that a significant number of Madheshi leaders from different parties will be joining us soon.

Q. What kind of relation do you intend to have with other Terai-based parties and armed groups such as the factions of the MPRF and JTMM?

Tripathi: We want to forge an alliance with all groups, which stand for the cause of the Madhesh. Why only the parties and groups in Terai, we want a good relation with all the major parties, including the Maoists. But that would depend on these parties’ stances on the Madhesi issues.

Q. The existing parties and groups in Terai could also treat your party as a competitor?

Tripathi: We don’t see any competition. If (Nepal) Sadbhavana Party had genuinely taken up the cause of the Madheshi people then other groups would not have surfaced in Terai, and the region would not be torn by violence like now. Sadbhavana indulged so much in the politics of power that it lost contact with the Madheshi people. A few months back, I had urged the party leadership to launch a movement in Terai sensing the popular mood, but we failed to do so. It was a historic mistake. The Madhesh revolt started soon thereafter. But, the revolt also fizzled out. Had the MPRF been able to lead the Madhesh movement effectively then we would have already achieved what we are striving for. They (MPRF) lacked the political will, maturity and sincerity to take the agitation to a logical end. The Madheshi people are also weary of the armed groups wagging a separatist movement.

Q. Still, don’t you think that the new party will only divide the Madheshi votes if you fail to bring the different groups together?

Tripathi: I want to clarify in the first place that we are not thinking about the politics of votes at all. We are not here to play politics for the sake of it. We are established political leaders who have come together to push for the agendas of the Madheshi people. And, we also want to see to it that there is no spillover effect of the Madhesh movement. Our party will also act as a catalyst to bring the different parties together for the good. We have not even set up our party and the three major parties have already stepped up efforts to bury their hatchets and evolve a consensus. This could be seen as an early achievement of our initiative.

Q. What is your take on the national agenda such as the Constituent Assembly elections?

Tripathi: Obviously we believe that an election to the Constituent Assembly is important to transform the nation. But it is unfortunate that everything is happening in this country, except the elections. This is because, I think, the King, Prachanda, Girija Prasad Koirala and Madhav Kumar Nepal do not want the elections. As they have nothing to loose now, they want the status quo to continue. The Madheshi people, janjatis, Dalits and women are the marginalised groups who are actually yearning for the elections since they want the state restructured to ensure their equal representation and participation in the state organs. If you ask me, I don’t think the major political actors even want a republican order in the country. The Nepali Congress leadership has now and then floated the idea of ceremonial and baby kings. The Maoists brought a superficial motion on republic declaration as if they only wanted publicity. Now they have started to advocate unity with the royalist nationalists. The Madheshi people, however, do not favor the monarchy since the institution has nakedly discriminated against them for centuries.

Q. When are you going to launch the new Madhesh agitation?

Tripathi: It has in fact already begun with the Madheshi leaders’ decision to quit parliament and their parties. However, once we form the party, we will organise a national convention and announce a peaceful agitation, which will establish the rights and authority the Madheshi people.

(By Akhilesh Tripathi & Sanjeev Ghimire)

In The News

MPRF, NSP hold peaceful protest demonstration at Gaur Kantipur The Madhesi People’s Right Forum (MPRF) and Nepal Sadbhawana Party-Mahato (NSP-Mahato) held a mass demonstration at Gaur in Rautahat district demanding withdrawal of the names of their activists filed by the Maoists for their alleged involvement in the Gaur massacre earlier this year. ....... While a majority of locals choose to stay within their homes during the rally which started two hours late from the scheduled time, hundreds of people from many nearby villages had come to participate in the rally. ...... MPRF leader Amar Yadav said that they would continue their fight until the administration drops the names of their cadres who were alleged to be involved in the Gaur massacre. ...... after the police declined to register the names of 127 members of MPRF, NSP and other parties saying they were based on prejudice, the Maoists resorted to banda in Rautahat from December 21 to 24. ....... Later when the police agreed to register the names, the MPRF and the NSP have been staging an indefinite strike in the district for more than 15 days now.
INTERVIEW WITH HRIDAYESH TRIPATHI

The tarai card Prashant Jha Nepali Times In one fell swoop, the political landscape changed last week. Mahant Thakur and others quit their parties, and now there are few madhesi leaders committed to the present process ........ Thakur walking out reflects the tightrope act that moderate madhesi leaders have been walking this past year. ...... They could no longer defend the indefensible, the state’s dismal track record in respecting madhesis, its security failures. Madhesi leaders realised the way to build or sustain a political base was by getting back to tarai towns and villages, rather than being near Singha Durbar. ...... Upto now, Delhi had treated the madhes as an irritant to the larger process. But it has now backed this new madhesi front ........ the madhes card is already showing results: negotiations have picked up momentum and the likelihood of an agreement this weekend has increased. ...... the perception among madhesi leaders that India has been unhelpful ...... In a context where national parties have failed to accommodate aspirations, regional parties strengthen and deepen democracy. ....... Thakur and company have the potential to revive politics in the plains and give the tarai a semblance of organised leadership that it sorely needs. Finally, politicians of different hues, some of them discredited, have taken up the political agenda of the madhes. This will marginalise the fringe and criminal outfits. A consolidation of madhesi forces is likely, with more MPs resigning and a possible understanding between the new front and other madhesi forces, especially the ones led by Upendra Yadav, Goit and Jwala Singh. All have welcomed the new front. ....... The natural impulse of Koirala and the Maoists will be to try to divide and conquer by engineering splits among madhesis, encourage Tharus to oppose the front, and go in for more aggressive security operations. ........ a coherent agenda, limited goals for now ..... learn from the MJF’s mistakes and focus on organisation building to ensure that a maximum of madhesi representatives can reach an elected assembly. They must get the militants to lay down arms
Shock and subterfuge CK Lal in hardball politics, there are no permanent friends or foes, only varying interests. ....... And, to keep Kathmandu’s leaders on their toes, a realignment of political forces in Madhes has been quietly engineered. ...... Now that even the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has dumped the monarchy, the republican agenda has lost its sheen. And any adoption of a fully proportional electoral system will be credited to the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and janajati activists rather than the Maoists.
Ceremonial prime minister the interim constitution gives the leadership of the seven political parties unrestrained power to do as they wish. They haven’t done much for months except hold endless, fruitless discussions. ....... The Maoists have a very clear vision. They have said categorically they don’t want an election they can’t win. The UML is into opportunism,so Madhab Nepal will make best use of whatever deal is offered to him by either the Maoists or monarchists. The political party that really lacks a vision for the future is Koirala’s NC. ....... He is dividing and ruling within his own party by pitting monarchists against republicans to retain control. He needs to come out clearly on issues like ‘baby king’, federalism and restructuring of the state. ........ Polls have to be held, with the Maoists if possible but even without them if necessary. If Koirala doesn’t have what it takes to face that challenge squarely, he has no business being the head of government as well as the state.
Reversed roles India's Naxalite wars are hotting up just as Nepal's Maoists holster their weapons ..... “gravest internal security challenge”. ..... The Naxalites seem to have no shortage of recruits, mainly because India’s blistering economic growth has not percolated through to a large section of rural India. ...... the state's withdrawal from basic services, the agrarian crisis, displacement for special economic zones. The judicial system is in a mess, with a backlog of cases in local courts. Inequitable land policies, unemployment, and the exclusion of tribals by forest contractors provide ready fodder for the Naxalites. ......... There is no one Maoist movement in India, there are many kinds of Naxalites. ...... Bihar’s Maoists have continued with armed action, engaging in brutal clashes with upper caste private militias. They engineered a daring jail break in Jehanabad and an attack on Madhuban in recent years and have expanded to districts bordering Nepal. .......... A CPI (Maoist) member in Ranchi admits: “There is lack of politicisation of the cadre and people join because they are attracted by the gun.” Maoists here are often called ‘Money Collection Centre’, a reference to their levies on contractors, shop keepers, government officials, industries, and development programs. Differences over sharing the loot, and caste tensions between Yadavs and Dalits, have also led to the formation of splinter groups. .......... Local leaders require Naxalite support to win polls in areas under their influence and give money in return. And the Maoists are happy to get protection from these leaders in case they get caught and assure them of security. ...... “Sharp intelligence inputs, a specialised fighting force, and political will can together act as the bitter medicine to kill the Naxal virus” ......... The Grey Hyenas, a special force which lives in the forests like the Maoists, have targeted and killed rebel activists. ...... “There will obviously be deaths. This is a war.” A war in which the poorest Indians are dying every day.

Govt tables motion for amendment in interim statute NepalNews mid-March election timeline
Parties agree to hold CA polls within 2064 B.S; CA seats increased to 601 CA seats elected under proportional system have been increased to 335, fixing the total number of seats at 601. The number of seats elected under first-past-the-pole will be 240 while the number of CA members to be nominated by the Prime Minister has been increased to 26 from 17.
PM assures Dalits of fair say in constitution-making process He also said he was not happy with the term ‘Dalit’ and that they should be identified only as Nepali citizens. ..... Dalit rights activists had gone to Baluwatar to inform the PM about the conclusions of the recent national conference of Dalit organisations held in the capital. .... The 21-point declaration passed by the conference
Maoists hold discussion with various groups on election system Most of participants of the discussion urged the party not to abandon the demand for the fully proportional representation-based election system. In response, the Maoist leaders assured they would stick to their demand.
Security beefed up in Gaur
Mahato faction files application for party registration

Mahato faction files application for party registration NepalNews with 'arrow' as an election symbol. ...... Rajendra Mahato as its chairman has Laxman Lal Karna as deputy-chairman, Narsingh Chaudhari and Ram Narayan Yadav as vice-presidents and Anil Kumar Jha as general secretary. Security beefed up in Gaur After the administration registered a charge-sheet filed by the Maoists against 127 persons said to be involved in Gaur massacre, the MJF and NSP have launched protests demanding its withdrawal.
Parties form committee to prepare draft of agreement Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai of the CPN-Maoist, Bharat Mohan Adhikari of UML, Bimalendra Nidhi of Nepali Congress, Lila Mani Pokhrel of People's Front Nepal and C. P Mainali of United Left Front ...... they were likely to ink the agreement by afternoon and present at the Interim House for endorsement to avoid constitutional difficulties. The parliament session is scheduled for 4 p.m.

'If Statute is not Amended Today, Govt to Lose Legitimacy' Himalayan Times “They have lost legitimacy and now they cannot justify their continuing in power,” former president of Nepal Bar Association, Shambhu Thapa, told this daily. “Now we have to look for options because the government and the interim parliament have failed to hold the election to constituent assembly in the stipulated time,” Thapa, who was a member of the Interim Constitution Drafting Committee, added. ....... Thapa said the provisions under Part 4 Articles 33 to Article 38 under the Directive Principles and Polices of the State in the Interim Constitution are also constitutional provisions and they are mandatory for the government and the parliament. “These provisions are taken as equal to the fundamental rights of the people; thus they must be followed,” he added Article 33 (A) of the Interim Constitution states that the state shall hold the elections to a constituent assembly by December 29. Former Supreme Court justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi also said that the provision under Article 33 (A) is mandatory for the state. ......... “It seems that the seven-party alliance and the leaders have been thinking that they are above the Interim Constitution and they are not ready to abide by the rule of law and the constitution,” Rayamajhi added.
Normal Life Crippled as Bandh Continues in Rautahat The indefinite Rautahat bandh announced by Madhesi Janaadnikar Forum and Nepal Sadbhavana Party’s Mahato faction continued to cripple life here. Traffic along all long and short routes stayed off the road and educational institutions and business stayed shut. Commoners and businessmen were hit hard due to the bandh. Locals in Gaur Municipality have allege that the local administration has not taken initiatives to open markets. Security has been beefed up in the district headquarters, Gaur. SP at the district police office, Laxman Neupane, said security has been intensified in the wake of the programmes going to be held by the MJF today and YCL on Sunday.
SPA fails to seal deal on PR seats The CPN-UML has proposed 60-40 ratio for the PR and the first-past-the-post. Nepali Congress today came up with a fresh proposal of 55-45 ratio, and the Maoists are insisting on 80-20 ratio if all-out PR was not acceptable to other parties. ...... “But our position is that CA polls must be held on all-out proportional system,” senior Maoist leader Mohan Baidya alias Kiran told this daily. ..... Home, Defence and Finance among NC, UML and Maoists. The Maoists are learnt to have said that the NC must give up one of the three ministries if the interim government were to run on coalition culture. Maoists are learnt to have insisted on the finance ministry in the to-be restructured government. ....... Mainali said he suggested that three deputy prime ministers could also be appointed to find a meeting point among the major parties. He also said they had even suggested the PM that MMPR (Mixed-Member Proportional Representation) system could be the best option. “But the NC did not subscribe to our views,” Mainali said.

Security maximized in Gaur following blasts Kantipur The administration deployed an additional reinforcement of over 2,000 security personnel here on Friday ...... the administration also warned it would take "any measure" to control violence and hooliganism. ..... MPRF, along with Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) has called a mass assembly here for Friday to protest the complaint filed by Maoists with the police against MPRF members. Similarly, the Maoists have announced a program on Saturday to commemorate the deceased of Gaur carnage. ........ five serial explosions took place in Rautahat headquarters Gaur late Thursday night despite tight security, adding to the worries of the already terrified authorities and locals. ....... the explosions that occurred in a span of a few minutes slightly damaged a house belonging to one Rajiv Manandhar. ...... The bombs were planted at the bus park area, Customs Office, and Rice Mill area ....... The bombs were set off when the city was facing electricity blackout
JTMM confirms it carried out Gaur blasts district secretary of the Morcha Shakti Singh confirmed ..... The house of a local resident Rajiv Manandhar was slightly damaged when the group hurled a bomb at his house ..... Life in the district has been thrown completely out of gear for the last two weeks with the MPRF and NSP enforcing their banda (general strike) to press for the withdrawal of cases filed against their cadres by Maoists for their alleged involvement in the Gaur massacre.
OHCHR concerned over MPRF, Maoist meets in Gaur
विखण्डन योजनालाई र्समर्थन हुन्न ः भारत

Resignation row echoes in parliament; PM consults with NC lawmakers from Terai NepalNews The row over the resignation of four Madhesi MPs including a senior minister figured prominently in Thursday’s parliamentary debate. Speaking during the Special Hour, the MPs expressed serious concern over the resignation, with most of them describing it as an ill-timed move which will further complicate the situation in Terai. Maoist MP Dev Gurung said that feudalism is the root cause of the problems in Terai, and claimed that the resignation of the Madhesi leaders is not intended to resolve the problems. Rastriya Janashakti Party chairman and MP Surya Bahadur Thapa said the government’s incompetence led to the resignation fiasco. Saying that the leaders of the seven parties have been making irresponsible comments with regard to nationality, Thapa urged the parties to handle the resignation issue sensibly. UML’s Lal Babu Pandit described the resignation of Madhesi MPs as an inopportune move, criticising them for “running away from responsibility” in the most critical time. Nepali Congress MP Harihar Dahal said that quitting the parliament would not lead to any solution. He however claimed that the nation was suffering because of the Maoists. Sunil Prajapati of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party said that since the MPs resigned alleging the parliament of indifference towards the problems in Terai, the parties must be serious about this developemnt. The country, he said, might plunge into sectarian conflict if these issues are not address on time. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has discussed the resignation issue with Nepali Congress lawmakers form Terai. During the meeting held at Baluwatar Thursday afternoon, the Prime Minister sought suggestions from the MPs on how to address the problems dogging the Terai region and create an enabling atmosphere for constituent assembly polls, NC chief whip Ananda Dhungana said. MPs from 21 Terai districts were present during the discussion.

CEC demands three months for polls preparation Citing the recent attempts of some Madhesi leaders to form a regional party, Pokharel said it was be a political matter whether a party having regional political agenda could be registered at the EC. He however made it clear that the interim constitution and existing laws do not have provisions to register regional party.