Madhesis' may join new govt if demands met: Nepali leader

A senior leader has hinted that the agitating Madhesi parties may join Nepal's new government if their demands are addressed.
"The United Democratic Madhesi Front may join the new government if we get commitment of fulfilling our demands from the new government," said Rajendra Mahato, president of Sadbhawana Party, one of the members of the Madhesis alliance.
Nepal plunged into a political turmoil after Prime Minister K P Oli resigned just before a no-confidence vote.
Oli tendered his resignation after two key ruling alliance partners -- Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic and Rastriya Prajatantra Party -- decided to support the no-confidence motion tabled against him by the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-Maoist Centre led by Prachanda in the 596-member Parliament.

President Bidya Bhandari called political parties to form a national consensus government within one-week time as per the provision of the constitution the largest party in the Parliament Nepali Congress and the Maoists agreed to take initiatives to form a national consensus government.
The two parties have also agreed to form a new government under the leadership of chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal Puspha Kamal Dahal who is also known as Prachanda.

The deadline issued by Bhandari to form a consensus government is till Monday.
If no consensus could be reached among the parties on the formation of a government then the process of forming a majority government will start from Tuesday.

"They (Maoist and Nepali Congress) have not yet asked for our support to form the new government," Mahato said, adding "if they seek our support we will clearly put our issues and until and unless they express commitment to address these issues we cannot consider joining the government."
The first point in the seven-point agreement signed between the UCPN-Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress before registering vote of no-trust against Oli government mentions about addressing the demands of the Madhesi parties, he pointed out.
Madhesis have been demanding amendments to the newly-enacted Constitution to ensure adequate political representation and reorganisation of the federal boundaries.