Kathmandu, October 27 Dalit leaders of various political parties have underscored the need for fair distribution of tickets to Dalits for the second phase of parliamentary and provincial elections slated for December 7. Speaking at an interaction organised by Federation of Dalit Women here today, they said they too had made contribution to their parties, and were therefore fit to contest the elections under the first-past-the-post electoral system and not only under Proportional Representation electoral system. They urged the political parties to give them tickets to contest both provincial and parliamentary elections under the first-past-the-post electoral system. There were 50 representatives from Dalit community in the first Constituent Assembly and 40 in the second Constituent Assembly. Nepali Congress Central Committee member and former lawmaker Jeevan Pariyar spoke about the need for launching a joint Dalit struggle to amend the constitution, laws and the election system to ensure meaningful participation of Dalits in state mechanisms. He said the constitution needed to be amended to ensure rights to Dalits and other underprivileged communities. CPN-Maoist Centre secretariat member Tilak Pariyar said initiatives were being taken within the party to increase Dalits’ participation in the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies. CPN-UML leader Jeetu Gautam stressed the need for eliminating ill practices of giving tickets to the people who are financially strong and have ability to influence central leadership. He said the parties discriminated against leaders from Dalit, marginalised and underprivileged communities. Joint coordinator of Durga Sob, former lawmaker Teku Nepali and Dalit rights activists Bhakta Bishwakarma, Moti Nepali, Chakra Bishwakarma and chairperson of Federation of Dalit Women Kala Swarnakar stressed the need for a joint movement for Dalit empowerment.