KATHMANDU, July 2: Irked with the government’s indifference to address its demands, the agitating Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) has been mulling withdrawing its support to the government, said its leaders. 

The party is scheduled to discuss the issue in the upcoming party meeting expected to be held later this week. RJPN leaders claim that though the party voted for Sher Bahadur Deuba to help him become the prime minister following his assurance to address the demands of the party, he did nothing nearly after a month of his election to the post.
“The government has done nothing to address our demands as promised earlier. Our party will discuss withdrawing support to the government in the upcoming meeting,” said RJPN leader Keshav Jha.

Most of the senior leaders of the party, including Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, Sharat Singh Bhandari among others have arrived in Kathmandu for the meeting. 
A leader of the party said that the meeting is likely to give a month’s deadline to the government to address their demands. “Our meeting is likely to take a decision on withdrawing support to the government,” said another leader of the party, Manish Kumar Suman. 

RJPN had withdrawn its support to the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government after seven months, venting ire against the government for failing to amend the constitution.
Meanwhile, RJPN leaders have said that the party is also mulling holding talks with the main opposition CPN-UML regarding Madhes issues and constitution amendment. Former Prime Minister Dahal had suggested to RJPN leaders earlier to also talk with the UML as constitution amendment was almost impossible without the second largest party’s support. 

“The UML has also softened its stance on Madhes issues recently. We are also positive about holding dialogues with the party in the coming days. But it doesn’t mean we will form an alliance with the party,” said Suman. 

RJPN and other Madhes-based political parties have been projecting UML has an anti-Madhesi party after UML declined to vote for the constitution amendment bill registered by the government in parliament.

 
• nepal government
 
• rjp