Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party Submits 8-Point Suggestions for Constitution Amendment

Kathmandu. Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) has submitted its formal suggestions to the task force formed for constitution amendment. The party has presented 8-point suggestions prioritizing the strengthening of federalism, reform in the electoral system, and recognition of the Madhes movement.

While submitting the suggestions, TMLP has also raised questions about the task force's working procedure and style. TMLP believes that the discussion will be meaningful only if the task force makes its own views public regarding the necessity, justification, and core subject matter of the amendment.

The main suggestions put forward by TMLP are as follows:

1. The Preamble should not be touched – As the preamble of any constitution is the soul and philosophy of that constitution, its core elements should not be amended. After the third paragraph of the preamble, 'Madhes movement and rebellion' should be added after 'People's Movement'.

2. Equality in non-resident Nepali citizenship should be ensured: Article 14 of the Constitution of Nepal should be amended by removing the phrase 'residing in countries other than those in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation' and a uniform provision for non-resident Nepali citizenship should be made for all.

3. 'Entire Madhes Two Provinces' should be redemarcated as Eastern and Western Madhes.

4. There should be no change in the multi-party parliamentary democratic system of governance.

5. Any attempt to weaken federalism through constitution amendment or to centralize power by changing its form will not be acceptable.

6. Representation in the National Assembly should also be based on the population of the provinces through constitution amendment.

7. For the elections of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies, the provinces should be considered as electoral constituencies and a fully proportional electoral system should be implemented.

8. Elections for local governments should be held on a non-party basis.