“We will decide our position only after holding discussions with parties that will file candidacy for prime ministerial post,” said Rameshwor Raya Yadav, vice-chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D). [break]
The Madhesi leaders have said that their decision to support a particular party would depend on the agenda it puts forward.
“In the prime ministerial election based on majority, we will lend support to the candidate who´d be willing to take up our agendas and address them,” said Jitendra Sonal, joint general secretary of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), talking about his party´s strategy. He said Madhes-based political parties will take a decision keeping Madhes agenda, peace process and constitution writing at the center.
Vice-chair of Sadbhawana Party Laxmanlal Karna said that they have not yet discussed about their support to any aspiring prime ministerial candidate as the political parties are still trying to reach an agreement for forming consensus government.
Speculations are rife that five Madhes-based political parties--MPRF-D, MPRF-R, Sadbhawana Party, TMDP and TMDP-N--associated with United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) will support Maoist prime ministerial candidate Dr Baburam Bhattarai. However, they have rebuffed such speculations. UDMF has altogether 65 lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF), which is not associated with UDMF, too has said its support would depend on the agenda put forth by a prime ministerial candidate.
“We will lend our support after evaluating the agenda of the aspiring candidate,” Ratneshwor Lal Kayastha, spokesperson of MPRF told Republica. MPRF has 12 lawmakers.
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