Ethnic groups say no to Prachanda's offer to join next govt by Shirish B. Pradhan

Kathmandu, Jul 11 (PTI) Ethnic Madhesi parties seeking autonomy for Nepal's Terai belt bordering India have rejected Maoist chief Prachanda's offer to join the new government to be formed under his leadership, claiming their key demand was ignored by top political groups while drafting Constitutional amendment bill.

There is no possibility of Madhesi parties joining the coalition in the current situation, said Rajendra Mahato, President of Nepal Sadbhavana Party, one of the Madhesi groups.

"We had boycotted Wednesday's Parliament meeting as the ruling parties tabled the Constitution amendment bill ignoring our demands, so we have decided to distance ourselves from the new government," he said.

The Madhesi parties have been pressing for incorporating their two key demands -- declaring Terai an autonomous region and recruitment of Madhesis in Nepal Army on proportionate basis, while amending the Constitution.

Outgoing Premier G. P. Koirala-led Nepali Congress had proposed to incorporate the agreement the interim multi-party government had signed with Madhesi groups in February through a supplementary clause in the amendment to the Constitution.

But, C.P.N.-Maoist and C.P.N.-U.M.L. registered a separate amendment proposal in the Constituent assembly on behalf of the ruling alliance that angered the Madhesi parties, according to Nepali Congress leaders.

The Maoist and the C.P.N.-U.M.L. have a combine strength of 337 in the 601-strong assembly. The new government can only be formed after the Constitution is amended to replace the current provision requiring two-third majority for government formation, with the simple majority.

Madhesi parties boycotted the assembly session on Wednesday after their separate proposal for constitution amendment was rejected by a majority vote. They were dissatisfied with the multi-party government's proposal as it did not exactly match with their key demands.

Now, Sunday's Constituent Assembly meeting is expected to endorse the amendment proposal, paving the way for the Maoists to form the next government.

During a meeting between Prachanda and Koirala Thursday, issues relating to Terai, formation of new government and Constitution amendment mainly figured, Nepali Congress sources said.

Koirala is understood to have told Prachanda, the Prime Minister-in waiting, that if they tried to ignore the Madhesi issue in a hurry to form government, it would be disastrous for the country.

Sources close to Koirala said the outgoing prime minister told Prachanda to pay serious attention to the demands raised by Madhesis to end the political stalemate.

Prachanda also sought help from Koirala in forming a new government and asked the Nepali Congress to join the next administration.

The top Maoist leader is well aware of the fact that if the Nepali Congress chooses to remain in the opposition in the new set-up it would give a negative signal to Nepal's development partners, according to political observers.

Prachanda is currently engaged in hectic consultations with other parties over the next government which, the Maoists claim, would be formed within a week.

He met C.P.N.-U.M.L. General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal, Madhesi People's Rights Forum president Upendra Yadav and other senior leaders of political parties having representation in the Constituent Assembly to seek their support.

Serious consultations have started within the Maoist party regarding the distribution of Cabinet portfolios and other key issues.

Meanwhile, Khanal said a government of national unity should be formed at a time when the country is moving towards drafting the new Constitution.

All-party government is essential for resolving the present crisis, as it would be impossible for a single party to run the government, he said.

Prachanda also said that once the Parliament passes the Constitution amendment bill on Sunday, the consultations on power-sharing will start.