KATHMANDU, Oct 12: The agitating Madhes-based parties, which were burning copies of the new constitution and concentrating their protests at the border checkpoints, returned to parliament on Sunday to vote for a prime minister.
One of the agitating parties, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) voted for CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli after the party signed an eight-point deal with the CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) to address the demands of Tarai-Madhes.
Related story
Lahan’s Laxmipur tense as more votes than total votes cast foun...
On the other hand, the four parties within the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) as well as fringe parties like Rastriya Madhes Samajbadi Party, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Republican and Nepal Sadbhavana Party unconditionally supported Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala.
UML Chairman Oli, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and MPRF-D Chairman Bijay Gachchhadar signed the eight-point deal agreeing to amend the constitution for ensuring proportional representation in political apppointments and public services as well as delimiting electoral constituencies on the basis of population after ensuring a constituency for each district. The deal has stated that the problem related to provincial delineations in Tarai-Madhes, Tharu-dominated areas and other parts of the country would be resolved politically. Likewise, they have also agreed to withdraw cases filed against Madhesi parties in the course of recent protests and provide reparation to the families of dead protestors and free treatment for the injured protestors.
"We were thinking about voting for Nepali Congress' candidate Koirala considering him a leader of democratic force but his party didn't show any concern to our demands. But the UML and UCPN (Maoist) said they are ready to resolve current crisis through the eight-point deal," said Ram Janam Chaudhary, the general secretary of the MPRF-D.
Chaudhary stressed the need for implementing the deal. "The deal opened up ways to form new government but it should be executed properly to settle ongoing protests and movements in Tarai-Madhes," said Chaudhary.
Meanwhile, the parties in UDMF have termed the eight-point deal as Gachchhadar's ploy to get into power.
"We are not concerned about Gachchhadar ji. Each and every time he comes up with a new stunt in his attempt to get into power. There is no point in signing pledges with these radicals and ultra-leftists," said Sadbhavana Party Co-Chairman Laxman Lal Karna, who attended parliament session along with other lawmakers of his party despite submitting collective resignation from Constituent Assembly in September just ahead of the voting on the constitution bill.
"We are still in protest and our protest will continue. We participated in today's vote just to register our opposition against the new coalition of radicals and extreme-leftists," said Karna.
Participation in
constitution execution
A section of civil society and people in social media have welcomed the participation Madhes-based parties in the voting process arguing their participation has ensured the execution of new constitution.
"Participation of the parties, which were burning the copies of constitution, in the voting process is very significant event. We should not care who they voted for. It is their acceptance of the new constitution," said Advocate Tikaram Bhattarai, vice-chairman of Nepal Bar Association.
"Their participation in the vote has ended the rationale for continuing the protests in Tarai," he added.
He also opined that the eight-point deal signed with MPRF-D and its execution could help in settling protests in Tarai Madhes. "Madhes-based parties had made the protest a prestige issue. The eight-point deal could constitute a safe-landing for the protests," said Bhattarai.
No positive message to Madhes-movement
However, advocate Deependra Jha, who is a Madhes sympathizer said that the decision of the UDMF to participate in the voting process surprised him and many others.
"The participation of UDMF has left me and many others surprised. Either they could have continued protest until securing amendment in constitution or could have called off protest before participating in the prime ministerial vote," said Jha. "Many people participating in sit-ins at border checkpoints called me and said they were confused," he added.
Jha termed the eight-point deal between MPRF-D and UML as eyewash. "The deal has no significant points for reforming provincial delineation while the points related to inclusion and delimiting electoral constituencies are more confusing than the amendment bill registered in parliament," said Jha
