File
Kathmandu, December 30
United Democratic Madheshi Front on Friday indicated it will not block the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill even if the Parliament does not incorporate its demands.
The UDMF has been striving for changes in the Bill itself. But with the government preparing to announce local level polls by putting the Bill on hold, the front is showing some flexibility.
After conclusion of the front’s two-day meetings on Friday, a leader said: We will support passage of the Bill in its present form, but we will have our note of dissent.
After tabling of the amendment proposal in the Parliament, UDMF will suggest changes. Even if the House does not accept its amendment, the front will move ahead. A UDMF leader said: If the House is willing to endorse the Bill in its present form, we will not be an obstacle.
Nonetheless, UDMF will still try to have its issues incorporated in the amendment proposal. In its minutes, UDMF has demanded passage of the Bill through incorporation of its demands. The front has said it will not let the government conduct elections without inclusion of its demands in the Bill. On January 2, UDMF is holding protest assemblies in district headquarters across the country.
Asked what changes they are seeking in the Bill, Tarai-Madhesh Democratic Party President Mahantha Thakur said: Our demand is the creation of two Madhesh provinces spanning from Jhapa to Kanchanpur.
UDMF, though, has not raised this issue as a precondition for the Bill’s passage. This is because UDMF constituents want to raise this demand during elections.
A senior UDMF leader indicated progress in the amendment process will make way for elections.
Even if UDMF supports the Bill, it is unlikely to sail through the House. This is because opposition parties, including the main opposition CPN-UML, have been obstructing the Parliament against the Bill.
Ruling parties, especially the Nepali Congress, are willing to push the amendment process ahead if the UDMF supports the Bill in its present form. The CPN-Maoist Centre, which leads the government, is also positive.
But irritants remain. The UDMF remains dissatisfied with the way the report of the Local Level Restructuring Commission. It has said the report is unacceptable as the commission is preparing to give finishing touches to it despite its objections.
