A meeting between Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and a key Madhesi party over the current crisis today failed to yield any results as the minority party insisted on amending the Constitution before the local body polls on June 28. Mr Deuba had invited leaders of the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJP-N) for informal consultation on the current crisis.
ACCORDING TO REPORTS the Prime Minister sought cooperation from the agitating Madhesi leaders for the smooth conduct of the second phase of elections during the talks. Mr Deuba said, once the second phase of elections are held, the Constitution would be amended to address the key demands of the agitating parties.
Madhesi leaders, however, insisted on amending the Constitution before the local body polls on June 28. They told the Prime Minister that they will not take part in the second phase of elections until the Constitution is amended.
The government has decided to defer the local body polls in the Province 2, the disputed Madhesi-stronghold, to September 18. Madhesis, mostly of Indian-origin, launched a prolonged agitation between September 2015 and February last year against the implementation of the new Constitution.