Kathmandu, January 13

As the major parties and the agitating United Democratic Madhesi Front prepare for decisive talks tomorrow, question remains whether they would be able to iron out their differences soon.

United Democratic Madhesi Front leader Ram Naresh Ray said the front was ready to settle the question of provincial boundaries through a political mechanism as desired by the major parties, but the latter needed to assure the front about the legitimacy and efficacy of such a mechanism.

Ray, who is also a member of the UDMF task force, said there was a risk that if the major parties sought to settle boundaries row in three months, they could ditch the UDMF if the current government was replaced by a new one.

“We have seen that these parties come together to deny rights to marginalised sections of society and part their ways when they have to give rights to them,” Ray added.

He said if both sides held serious and sincere dialogue a win-win solution was possible tomorrow.

“We are not demanding anything new. Madhes pradesh was ensured in eight-point pact and now we are going for two provinces in Madhes respecting the recommendation of the State Restructuring Commission and the first Constituent Assembly’s thematic committee,” he said and added that if major parties agreed to retain the provisions of the Interim Constitution mainly on the issues of citizenship, proportional inclusion and delineation of election constituencies on the basis of population, then a solution might be found soon.

“We are not going to withdraw our protests without the major parties addressing our concerns,” he said.

Joint General Secretary of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Jitendra Sonal said the agitating forces were not intensifying their agitation so that a negotiated settlement could be reached but if the major parties’ deemed it UDMF’s weakness, then they were wrong. “If parties fail to find a solution soon, agitating forces could intensify their agitation again,” he added.

Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya, who is a member of the major parties’ task force, said there was a possibility that the parties could reach a settlement soon.

He said if parties agreed to incorporate the ToR of the political mechanism in the constitution through an amendment that could win the confidence of the UDMF.

“My view is that some clusters from the reservation provision can be removed and on citizenship, we can agree on retaining the Interim Constitution’s provision as far as the matrimonial naturalisation is concerned,” he said and added that delineation of election constituencies on the basis of population was also possible.

Acharya said UDMF would also agree on giving at least one constituency to sparsely populated districts like Manang and Mustang, as that was also the spirit of the Interim Constitution.

“We need to find a solution to the Tarai unrest as soon as possible because the standoff threatens to adversely affect the economy of the country, communal harmony and Nepal’s relations with India.

Political analysts Tula Narayan Sah and Uddhab Pyakurel, however, expressed their skepticism about reaching a deal anytime soon.

Shah said if Unified CPN-Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal assured Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli that his party would continue to support his government then a solution might be found soon.

“Unless Dahal assures the PM of continued support to his government, I do not think that a win-win solution can be found easily,” he said.

Analyst Pyakurel said Kathmandu leadership had not tried to understand the real or perceived problems of Madhes yet and unless that happened, a solution would remain elusive.