KATHMANDU, June 14: Nepali Congress (NC) lawmakers representing Madhes districts have suggested the party leadership defer election in Province 2 until the agitating Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) is brought on board the election process. 

The lawmakers apprised the party president Sher Bahadur Deuba of the difficult situation in tarai districts after the RJPN cadres launched anti-poll protests. "We apprised the party president of the difficult situation in Madhes districts. We suggested to the party president to take appropriate decision," said NC leader Farmullah Mansoor.
 
The leaders had suggested to party leadership to hold election on the stipulated date of June 28 in provinces 1, 5 and 7 while defering the same in Province 2 for a few days. The leaders argued that an increase of local units in various Madhes districts based on the size of population would pave way for the agitating RJPN as well to participate in the poll.

The leaders suggested that the local poll in Province 2 could be held by mid-July after addressing their key concerns. Although the RJPN has been saying that it won't join the election process without its demand for amending the constitution is addressed, the leaders had told Deuba that the party would join the poll once the earlier government's decision to increase 22 local units in various tarai districts is implemented.
 
The decision to increase the number of local units was stayed by the Supreme Court. A writ petition filed against the court ruling is scheduled for June 18. 

NC lawmakers from Madhes districts had held a meeting with party president Deuba after holding discussions about the situation in Madhes districts after RJPN cadres started anti-poll activities. At a dinner meeting organized by senior NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi on Tuesday evening, NC lawmakers and leaders had decided to recommend Deuba to defer the polls in Province 2  

 
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