LAHAN, May 26: In the next seven days, Madhes-centric parties will have to decide whether or not to participate in the second phase of local elections slated for June 14. Since those parties that have remained undecided about participating in the elections are losing their cadres to other parties, some of the Madhes-centric parties are opting to participate in the election due to immense pressure from their cadres.
When asked why his party is determined to participate in the second phase of local elections despite the demands of Madhesi parties not being fulfilled, chairman of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Upendra Yadav said there is a need to preserve the achievements of former protests while pressurizing the government to fulfill their demands.
“The Madhes protests in 2007 had led to the establishment of federal democratic republic in the country. We are forgetting to conserve the previous achievements. As history has given us lessons that we lose our previous achievements if we don't safeguard them, we are participating in the elections in order not to repeat history,” he said.
Yadav further said that it is wrong to think that he is participating in the elections by forgetting the Madhesi agendas. “If we are able to bring changes but fail to manage it politically, it would not have much meaning,” he added.
After some of the party's leaders and cadres expressed disappointment for participating in the elections, Yadav was forced to call a meeting with leaders of Province-2, which includes Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari, in Lahan to clarify his about decision.
“After seeing that the constitution amendment bill will not pass, I have decided to participate in the elections to safeguard and utilize our past achievements,” he clarified.
Madhesi parties preparing for polls, RJPN still undecided
