Madhesi parties again snub EC’s deadline to submit closed list of candidates:-

Agitating Madhesi political parties snubbed today’s deadline for filing the closed list of candidates for proportional election system.

None of the three main agitating Madhesi parties – Mahantha Thakur-led Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP), Upendra Yadav’s Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MFJ) and Sadbhawana Party (SP) led by Rajendra Mahato – went to the Election Commission (EC) to submit the nominations.

The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), an alliance of these three parties, which has called an indefinite shutdown in Terai, has said it will not participate in the April 10 constituent assembly polls unless the demand for a single Madhes province is met.

“We are not going to take part in the election unless the ‘one Madhes’ demand is met and we will not file the closed list,” Sadbhwana leader Anil Kumar Jha said at the Reporters Club Sunday.

However, the seven-party alliance and the government have said the ‘one Madhes one province’ demand is not acceptable for them and that they are committed to hold the polls at any cost.

Meanwhile, the Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) led by former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has also refused to submit the closed list, declaring that it will not participate in the election if the Madhes crisis is not resolved meaningfully.

Mohan Dahal, chief secretary at the RJP central office, told Nepalnews that the party had its list ready, but would not submit it at the EC if the SPA government didn’t create a favourable environment by addressing the grievances of Madhesis and Janajatis.

“RJP hasn’t said it is going to boycott the election, but believes that election is just not possible in the existing situation,” said he.

According to EC officials, only two parties, Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekta Party and Nepal Samata Party, filed the closed list today.

37 out of the total 74 parties registered at the EC had submitted the closed list of candidates for 335 proportional seats on Feb 20. The commission had set a second deadline (Feb 24) to submit the closed list at the government's request as talks were still going on with the UDMF. nepalnews.com mk Feb 24 08

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