Kathmandu, November 23
Leave alone the opposition parties, even the ruling coalition partner, Nepali Congress, is not happy with the Prachanda-led government’s proposal on redrawing of provincial boundaries.
The proposal that the government had prepared with the involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi has recommended removing Hill districts from Province 5 and carving out a province spanning from Nawalparasi to Bardiya. Deuba has opposed this.
At Wednesday’s meeting in Baluwatar, Deuba said the whole of Nawalparasi district cannot be made a part of Province 5.
A leader participating in the meeting said: Deuba and Nidhi disagreed on the issue of Nawalparasi.
At the meeting, NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula also opposed the proposal to include Nawalparasi in Province 5.
Countering the Congress stance, leaders of the United Democratic Madheshi Front demanded discussions on the fate of Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur.
Home Minister Nidhi, who heads the NC team in the government, supported the UDMF demand. Congress General Secretary Shashank Koirala, who attended the meeting, kept mum throughout.
