Kathmandu, August 5

Over 85 per cent of the speakers in the office bearers’ meeting of the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal  have said that the party should not participate in elections till the  constitution amendment bill is passed.

A total of 104 office bearers of the RJP-N took part in the meeting that began on Thursday.  RJP-N leaders  Brikhesh Chandra Lal and Manish Kuamr Suman said almost 85 per cent of the speakers who spoke during the meeting said that the RJP-N should not to participate in elections without ensuring passage of the constitution amendment bill.

Lal said only around 15 per cent  speakers said that the party should participate in elections even if the constitution amendment bill was not passed.

“There is a strong voice in the RJP-N that the party, which is carrying the agenda of Madhesis and other marginalised communities, should not take part in the election in the current situation without ensuring passage of the constitution amendment bill,” he said and added that if the RJP-N abandoned its agenda of empowering Madhesis and other marginalised  communities, then some other forces would champion the same cause.

Lal said if the RJPN did not participate in the third phase of local polls, then it would disrupt the polls and even if the government succeeded to hold polls with the help of army and police, people of Madhes would resort to movement after the polls.

“I personally feel that the major three parties- the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and the CPN-MC are playing a game with the agitating forces. They are hand in globe to block constitution amendment bill,” he said and added that if the ruling parties had the courage, then they should try to put the constitution amendment bill and ensure its passage.

Lal said if the RJP-N participated in the election without ensuring passage of the constitution amendment bill then it would be equal to giving legitimacy to ‘the discriminatory constitution.’ “If the constitution amendment bill is not passed and if we do not take part in election, we will not own up  this constitution,”  he said and added that if the Parliament could not address the agitating forces’ concern, then the RJP-N could decide on the next course of action.

Members of the RJP-N presidium also addressed the concluding session of the office bearers meeting.  The RJP-N’s first  Central Committee meeting has been scheduled for  tomorrow. RJP-N’s CC meeting will decide on whether or not the party will take part in the third phase of local polls.