Kathmandu, March 23:

The Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party (TMDP), the fifth largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA), today drew the attention of the Election Commission (EC) to misuse of state coffers and power in the by-elections in six vacant CA seats by the ‘bigger’ ruling parties.

After a meeting of the party’s central executive committee led by party chairman Mahantha Thakur at TMDP’s central office, the party wrote to the Election Commission, demanding effective implementation of the election code of conduct.

The party also demanded necessary arrangements to hold the by-election in free, fair and fearless manner and mobilise sufficient national and international observers.

The meeting formed two committees to monitor the April 10 by-election.

“A five member committee, which includes, Govinda Chaudhari and Anish Ansari, will be mobilised in Morang 5 and 7 and a 13-member committee led by Mahendra Yadav will monitor the election in the Dhanusha-5,” said party spokesperson Sarbendra Nath Shukla.

“We discussed about the party’s future strategy and assessed the causes and consequences of Tharu movement in the Tarai,”

said Sukla. The meeting was postponed until tomorrow. Shukla informed that the meeting will set a timetable and nature of a fresh Tarai agitation. The party had already announced that it would initiate an agitation after the CA teams complete the opinion collection campaign on new constitution.

The TMDP had started its first round of agitation on January 1 by withdrawing its support to the government. It had submitted a 13-point demand to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on January 26.

The TMDP demands include implementation of the agreements signed between the government and the Madhesh-based parties last year.