KATHMANDU, Aug 21: As part of their decision to gear up election preparations, various Madhes-based parties have asked their district committees to recommend at least three candidates from each constituency for the Constituent Assembly (CA) poll scheduled for November 19. The parties have also said that they are close to finalizing their election manifestoes.
General Secretary of Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhavana Party (SP), Manish Suman, said that their party was all prepared for the poll. “We have just concluded a 13-day orientation program starting August 9,” he said, adding that they are holding a three-day Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Janakpur from Saturday.
He said they have called together 500 party leaders from various constituencies to participate in the CWC meeting. “We will finalize the names of our candidates for the different constituencies before mid-September,” added Suman, adding that they were also working on an election manifesto. He claimed that no force could stop the CA poll from being held on the stated date of November 19. [break]
Meanwhile, joint secretary of Mahanth Thakur-led Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party (TMDP), Jitendra Sonal, has said that talks between the Madhesi parties on forging an alliance and making election adjustments were headed in a positive direction. He insisted that it was too early to announce the formation of an alliance with a view to the elections.
“We will announce three first-past-the-post (FPTP) candidates and two proportional representation candidates for each constituency before the end of August,” said Sonal, adding that they have trained more than 80,000 cadres in eight various Terai districts.
He claimed that economic development, agriculture, postal highways, women, Muslims, Dalits and federalism would be the agenda of the election manifesto. “Apart from that, we will propose in the manifesto to develop Birgunj city as an economic hub in Nepal,” said Sonal, adding that they would raise the issue of building airports at both Bhairahawa and Nijgadh.
Central committee member of Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi People´s Right Forum-Nepal (MPRF-N), Mrityunjay Jha, said their party was holding a seven-day orientation program in Janakpur and it would conclude on Saturday. “We are discussing details of our election preparations,” said Jha, adding, “We are analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of our party at every constituency in the Terai.”
Vice-chairman of Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar-led MPRF-D Rameshwor Raya Yadav has said that they are holding a three-day national gathering at Biratnagar within two weeks. “We will finalize the names of our candidates for the poll amidst the gathering,” said Yadav, maintaining that the process of writing the manifesto was under way.
He stressed the need of holding the fresh polls on the stipulated date. “The absence of disgruntled parties [from the election] would not make any sense as both parties and people are geared up for the election process,” he insisted.
Political analyst Chandrakishore said, "It seems the Madhes-based parties have stepped up their election campaign since the last couple of weeks.The presence of all chiefs of the Madhes-based parties of the Tarai region also indicates the same thing. "
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