Kathmandu, May 9

The Federal Alliance led by Mahantha Thakur announced fresh stir against local polls after its meeting with three major parties -- the Nepali Congress, the CPN-Maoist Centre and the CPN-UML — failed to forge consensus on constitutional issues.

The FA decided to hold mass assemblies in district headquarters in Provinces 1, 2, 5 and 7 on May 12 and motorcycle rallies in these provinces on May 15.

FA leader Rajkishor Yadav told THT that the alliance announced mild forms of protest as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal urged them not to resort to extreme forms of protest at least before May 18 when the Parliament will convene its next meeting. “If the ruling parties fail to ensure passage of a revised constitution amendment bill on May 18, we will resort to strong forms of protest after May 18 to foil the second phase of local polls,” Yadav said.

Another FA leader Keshav Jha said PM Dahal told the FA leaders that the government would try its best to pass the constitution amendment bill in the next meeting of the Parliament but the FA should participate in the local polls even if the bill was not passed. “We rejected the PM’s proposal,” Jha added.

Yadav said FA leaders told the major parties that the government did not honour the gentleman’s agreement the FA had reached with the ruling parties a few days ago, whereby the government was supposed to pass a revised constitution amendment bill before the first phase of local polls. “The PM said the government had mustered the support of over 400 lawmakers to pass the constitution amendment bill but failed to ensure its passage as almost a dozen lawmakers of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party suddenly disappeared,” Yadav added.

FA leaders reminded the PM that the government did not increase the number of local levels in the Madhes or withdraw false cases slapped against the cadres and leaders of agitating Madhesi and Janajati forces.

FA leader Rajendra Mahato said the PM assured them that the next meeting of the Cabinet would decide to withdraw false cases slapped against the cadres of agitating forces and would also work on increasing the number of local levels in Madhes.

Mahato told UML leader Bamdev Gautam that the UML should also help pass the amendment bill or else it could be perceived as the party that spoilt the environment for local polls.