Nepal's Madhesi parties may launch protest

Nepal's Madhesi parties might take to the streets to press their demand to incorporate the aspirations of Dalits, Madhesis and other marginalised communities in the new Constitution, a top leader said today.
Sadbhawana Party president Rajendra Mahato said his party will concentrate on drafting the new Constitution and focus all efforts on its promulgation within a year in line with the people's mandate.
"We will focus all our energy and efforts towards drafting a new Constitution within a year," he told PTI.
"We may even opt to launch street protests to exert pressure so as to enshrine the aspiration of the Dalits, ethnic groups, Madhesis and all the exploited and marginalised communities in the new Constitution," Mahato said.

Talks for the unification of three key Madhesi parties have reached the final stage and a new unified party will soon emerge to represent the Madhesis or people of the Terai region, he said.
Once the Sadbhawana Party, Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum Nepal and Terai Madhes Democratic Party complete their unification, their combined strength will be 27 lawmakers, making the group the fourth largest in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

"The main thrust behind the unification was to form a stronger Madhesi party which can ensure the rights and welfare of the Madhesi people, not for the purpose of attaining power," Mahato said.

He acknowledged that Madhesi parties faced defeat in the November 19 Constituent Assembly polls "as they failed to gain the confidence of the people due to their power-hungry attitude".
"I personally believe that Madhesi parties should not opt for power before drafting the Constitution," he said.
The deadline given by president Ram Baran Yadav to parties to form a consensus government ends on February 2. After the deadline is over, the president may give time to form a majority government.
"There is very little chance of forming a consensus government by February 2, and we are least concerned about the formation of the new government, as our priority is drafting a Constitution rather than power sharing," Mahato said.