Madhesh Parties Prepare for Protest Against Federalism Restructuring Proposal

Kathmandu. After the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party passed a proposal to abolish provinces and restructure federalism from its general convention, preparations for protests have begun in Madhesh.

Today (Saturday), leaders of Madhesh-centric parties and some civil society leaders held a meeting and decided to go for protests.

The meeting was attended by leaders including Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal patron and National Assembly member Mahanta Thakur, Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal Chairman Rajendra Mahato, Janamat Party Chairman Dr. CK Raut, Janata Pragatisheel Party Chairman Hridayesh Tripathi, JSP Nepal leader Rajkishor Yadav, Rastriya Mukti Party General Secretary Keshav Jha, Santosh Mehta, and Ramkumar Sharma, as well as some civil society leaders.

'A separate organization will be formed for the protest, but it will not be a political party,' said a leader who participated in the meeting. 'The protest will be carried out by forming a separate non-party organization rather than a political party, which will include leaders of political parties and civil society leaders.'

Leaders stated that RSP has been an anti-federalism party from the beginning, and the current general convention has confirmed this.

Leaders have made plans to rise above party lines and go for protests to save federalism, and to connect people from every party, civil society, and other sectors to the protest. The leadership of the protest and the name of the organization have not yet been decided, but there has been an agreement to go for the protest in a non-political manner, the leader said.

JSP Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav was not invited to this meeting.