The parties, which are part of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC), have decided to press their demands for additional time for the remaining voters to register in the electoral roll, and delineation of election constituencies strictly on the basis of population as shown in the latest census of 2011. [break]
Spokesperson of Mahanth Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), Sarbendra Nath Shukla, said that they were not in favor of disrupting the CA poll.
"It is out of ill intentions that the CDC has recommended keeping the existing 240 constituencies intact," said Shukla. "While we will press constantly for our demands, we won´t disrupt the electoral process scheduled for November."
Shukla said that the EC should provide at least a month´s time to allow the remaining voters to register in the electoral roll.
Co-chairman of Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhavana Party (SP), Laxman Lal Karna, said the delineation of constituencies should be done on the basis of population as per Article 63 (3) of the Interim Constitution. "It is against the constitutional provision to keep the existing constituencies intact even when there has been a big change in the population," he said.
Karna said that his party will stage a protest in Kathmandu on Monday against the recommendations of the CDC. "But that will not be aimed at disrupting the November election and will only exert pressure to meet our genuine demands," he further said.
Vice-chairman of Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar-led Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic), Rameshwar Raya Yadav, said the decision of the CDC to reduce the representation of Madhesis by not increasing the election constituencies in proportion to the increase in population in the region is a ploy to further sideline the Madhesi people.
"Madhes should have at least 51 percent representation in the new CA as more than half the total population of the country lives in this region," he said.
Yadav, however, said that they are against deferring the election now scheduled for November 19. "The election should be held on the slated date as its postponement would not yield any solution. We will take a decision about protest programs through our Central Committee (CC) meeting very soon," he said.
TMDP, MPRF-D, MPRF-Republican, TMDP-Nepal and Sadbhavana Party are the five constituent parties of the UDMF, a loose alliance of Madhes-based parties.
Eight constituent parties of the Federal Democratic Front (FDF) led by Upendra Yadav have threatened to boycott the poll unless their demands are met.
Upendra Yadav, who is chairman of MPRF-N, has said that keeping the constituencies intact was unconstitutional and unrealistic. "The recommendation of the CDC report is spoiling the environment for talks," said Yadav, claiming that polls would not be held under the status quo.
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