Dahal-UDMF meet ends inconclusively

Kathmandu / Feb 18: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held consultations with the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) over various issues including local polls and constitution amendment on Saturday.

Prime Minister Dahal held discussions with the leaders of the UDMF inviting them to his official residence at Baluwatar.

However, the meeting could not bear any fruit after both the parties did not budge an inch.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal had proposed with the UDMF to forward constitution amendment proposal and election simultaneously while UDMF leaders were of the stance that election could not be held without constitution amendment.

Stressing that there was no alternative to going for local polls to end political stalemate, PM Dahal urged UDMF leaders to support the government in its preparation of forwarding constitution amendment and local poll together.

He expressed the view that it would be difficult to hold local bodies’ election within the second week of May if the date for local polls was not declared soon. Sharing the information that constitution amendment proposal would be forwarded in the Parliament called from February 21, Prime Minister Dahal urged them to support it.

PM Dahal also informed the UDMF leaders that the government was in preparation of election by forwarding the constitution amendment proposal in view of the situation of the country, said PM Dahal’s Political Advisor, Chakrapani Khanal.

Similarly, UDMF leaders expressed the view that election could not be held without finalization of constitution amendment proposal first, saying it would be difficult to go for local bodies’ election in the status quo.

Chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, Upendra Yadav, said that election could not be held before constitution amendment.

Prime Minister Dahal, Nepali Congress General Secretary Dr Sashanka Koirala, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Bimalendra Nidhi, Upendra Yadav, Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, Ashok Rai, among other leaders from the UDMF were present on the occasion. RSS