Nepal Madhesis not to join new govt, will back new coalition

The agitating Madhesis groups in Nepal will not join the new government but help form the new coalition, a senior leader of the ethnic group, mostly of Indian-origin, said today.
Interacting with media here, Laxman Lal Karna, co-chair of Sadbhawana Party, said the party was not interested in joining the new government.
He said that the United Democratic Madhesi Front that has been protesting against the constitution for last one year will, however, help in forming a new coalition government comprising Nepali Congress, the largest party in the Parliament, and CPN-Maoist Centre.
Nepali Congress and the Maoists tabled a no trust motion in the parliament last week against Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, accusing him of not honouring his past commitments.

However, the Speaker of the parliament has not yet fixed date for discussion on the no-trust motion.
Karna said the Madhesi front will help in forming the new coalition as the Nepali Congress and the Maoists have assured to address their demands.

Karna said that Prime Minister Oli did not respond to their demands as a result of which they are compelled to help form the new coalition.
Madhesis launched a six-month-long agitation from September to February in which more than 50 people were killed. The agitation had also crippled the landlocked country's economy as supplies from India were blocked.

The major demands of Madhesis include re-demarcation of the seven province model of federal structure, inclusiveness and proportionate representation of marginalised groups and ethnic minorities including the Madhesis, indigenous groups and dalits in all the state bodies.
"Our other demands include proportionate representation, inclusive representation for the Madhesis and other marginalised groups in various state mechanisms, and rights related to language and citizenship certificate," Karna, one of the members of the alliance, had said earlier.
The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of seven Madhes-based parties, have accused Oli's government of using excessive force to suppress their agitation demanding more constitutional representation.