Following the understanding between the two sides to form the political mechanism to suggest solutions to resolve disputes on provincial boundaries, the leaders have also agreed to the agitating Madhesi parties' demand for legal validity of the mechanism's decisions.
"We don't have much difference over authenticity issue. Decisions in the mechanism can be taken as a part of the constitution," said Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya, after a meeting of the joint taskforce on Sunday. Leaders from the three major political parties and the agitating parties are members of the team.
However they are yet to finalize terms of reference and few other issues for the final agreement, which is expected to be decided before Tuesday, said the leaders.
During Sunday's meeting, the agitating parties put forth a six-point proposal. In the proposal, Madhesi leaders have been insisting that there should be an agreement to declare two provinces in the Tarai-Madhesh region. However three major parties aren't ready to make such agreement in advance.
In the six-point proposal, the UDMF has floated an idea of revising the demarcation proposed in the new constitution and delineate two provinces in the Tarai Madhes region.
Parties are still at odds over whether the to-be-formed political mechanism should be given a period of three months or only a month to come up with its solution. The agitating parties have proposed that the decisions by the mechanism must be made on consensus basis and its decisions must be an issue related to constitutional amendment.
Similarly they have demanded that the jurisdictions of the mechanism be included in annex section of the new constitution. "We are working for making ToR acceptable for both parties.
We discussed on various options minutely, inching closer to a deal than in the previous meetings," said Acharya.
The agitating parties have demanded representation of five members from each province to the Upper House and other remaining members be elected based on population of the provinces. They have also demanded declaring those killed in the Madhes movement as martyrs and the government bear medical expenses for the injured and withdraw cases as well as form an investigation commission.
Mangalsiddhi Manandhar of the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal said that the ToR is likely to be finalized on Monday.
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