General Secretary of Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhavana Party (SP) Manish Suman has said that deferral of the poll would not be acceptable to them. “The CA poll must be conducted on November 19,” said Suman, adding, “We will stage strong protests if the election date is postponed. We will revive our demands if the government fails to conduct the CA poll on the slated date.” [break]
He said that they would reinstate their demand for constituency delineations in Madhes on the basis of population. “We have compromised on various demands to pave the way for holding the election in November,” he said, maintaining that their party would also urge the government to guarantee fulfillment of their strong demand for "one Madhes, one province" before reaching any consensus through the CA.
Insisting that they were all prepared for the poll, Suman said, “Our preparations will go in vain if the election is postponed.” He further maintained that they can accept deferral of poll by a maximum of 10 days, but "not by months".
Similarly, General Secretary of Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar-led Madhesi People"s Right Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Jitendra Dev has said that they had forged deals and compromised with their demands in order to see the CA poll being held in November. “But it is too early to say the poll would be postponed,” said Dev, maintaining that they would mull programs of protest if the poll is in fact deferred.
Spokesperson of Upendra Yadav-led MPRF-N Ratneshwar Lal Kayastha has said that a six-point deal was reached between his party and the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) to hold the CA poll on the stipulated date. “The agreements would become meaningless if the poll is postponed,” said Kayastha, adding that they would revive their 13-point demand if the election date gets pushed back.
Spokesperson of Mahanth Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Sarvendra Nath Sukla said that no one has the right to postpone the CA election for the sake of persuading a particular party. “The entire state apparatus, the Election Commission, security agencies and the political parties are all prepared for the poll,” he said, maintaining that the agitating Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist had no right to hold the country hostage.”
He further added that anti-republican forces would draw strength if the election is deferred. “It is an attempt to invite further political instability.” Sukla stressed that they would launch strong protests if the poll is not held by November. “It is against the national interest to reschedule the CA poll.”
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