A Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of the party held in the capital on Friday entrusted Chairman Mahantha Thakur with persuading other Madhes-based parties into joining the electoral alliance. [break]
“Our first priority will be to make all Madhes-based parties participate in the fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) election under the umbrella of a single alliance,” said TMDP General Secretary Govinda Chaudhari, adding, “If not, there will electoral adjustments among the Madhesi parties.”
TMDP´s decision comes at a time when former minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta has been stating that they are in talks with Thakur to form a broader election alliance led by the latter. Gupta is currently spearheading Tarai Madhes National Campaign across the Tarai in a bid to form a political party.
Chaudhari said Thakur will call a meeting of the Madhesi parties within a couple of days to discuss formation of an electoral alliance in the line with the party´s decision.
According to Chaudhari, the party will also hold discussions with indigenous parties, among others, that share a common agenda.
Earlier, TMDP had taken initiatives for a merger with the Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) led by Upendra Yadav but it could not materialize following disagreement between the two parties regarding leadership and power-sharing in the central committee.
Meanwhile, TMDP has officially rejected the Election Commission (EC)´s proposal on eligibility threshold of one percent for seats under proportional representation electoral system and downsizing of the CA (from 601 to 491 members).
“The proposed eligibility threshold and downsizing of CA are unacceptable to us under any circumstances,” TMDP Joint General Secretary Jitendra Sonal told Republica.
He maintained that the Madhesi, indigenous, Muslim, among other marginalized groups would not be able to voice their concerns strongly, if the CA is downsized.
“CA must represent the voices of all groups,” Sonal added.
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