At a function organized by Nepal Madhes Foundation in the capital on Saturday, leaders of CPN-UML and Nepali Congress (NC) stood in favor of the proposal while Madhesi leaders and activists termed the proposal a conspiracy to thwart issues of Madhesi, indigenous, Dalit, and other marginalized groups. [break]
CPN-UML leader Agni Kharel stated that the decision on downsizing the CA was taken in accordance with the people´s aspirations. “The erstwhile CA was fiercely criticized as it was not representative of our geography and population,” Kharel added.
He also maintained that the proposed one percent threshold for seats under proportional electoral system will encourage political parties with same ideologies to come together.
Central committee member of Nepali Congress (NC) Minendra Rijal accused some political parties of opposing the threshold provision for fear that they would lose the election. He stated that election constituencies should be delineated on the basis of population and geography.
Chairman of National Madhes Socialist Party (NMSP) Sharat Singh Bhandari ruled out the possibility of holding fresh election until the issue of percentage of seats under first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional electoral system is settled.
“Who gave them [NC, CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and the United Democratic Madhesi Front] the right to reduce seats under proportional electoral system,” questioned Bhandari.
Former minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta maintained that the decision on threshold was taken with an “ill-intention”. He stressed the need for overall review of delineation of election constituencies.
Professor Krishna Hachhethu claimed that new CA will be more regressive and “status-quo-ist” than the erstwhile CA. “Federalism cannot be institutionalized until a new political emerges through a movement in the country,” he added.
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