'Nepali Congress ready for polls sans Madhesi parties'

KATHMANDU: While the Madhes-centric forces have been warning of withdrawing their support extended to the government within one or two days, a leader of the ruling coalition said the government was determined to hold local level elections at any cost, even leaving the Madhesi parties off the board.

Speaking with journalists at the Reporter's Club in the Capital today, Nepali Congress Central Working Committee member NP Saud said the elections would be held on May 14 as announced by the government even if the Madhesi parties would boycott it.

"Elections should be held and they could not be stopped on any pretext," he said, "It is not possible that elections will not be held just because of Madhesi Morcha's protests."

Meanwhile, Saud ruled out the possibility of change in the government's reign before the local elections.

Speaking at the same function, Manish Kumar Suman, General Secretary of the Sadbhawana Party, a key constituent of the United Democratic Madhesi Front, said the UDMF would withdraw the support given to the government within next 24 to 48 hours.

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"We will sever ties with the government," Suman said, adding the endorsement of the Constitution amendment proposal with some other revisions was a must to enable the Madhes-centric parties for participation in the elections.

Endorsement of the amendment proposal as it has been tabled at the Parliament today would not be sufficient to woo the parties for the elections, he clarified.

Meanwhile, Suman accused the government of not willing to amend the Constitution.