Nepal Madhesis plan protests

: The Nepal government on Monday announced elections to local bodies would be held on May 14 despite opposition from Madhes-based political parties, which said they would launch protests.

A Cabinet meeting decided on Monday evening that the polls would be held according to the recommendations of the Election Commission. Within an hour of the government declaring the date for the polls, a meeting of Madhesi parties rejected the move and decided to launch protests from Tuesday.

The government decided to hold the polls in a single phase on May 14, information minister Surendra Karki said after the Cabinet meeting.

The government also decided to discuss the long-awaited Constitution amendment bill in Parliament in an attempt to appease the Madhesi parties, which have rejected the measure. The parties will conduct a torch rally on Tuesday and organise a strike in the southern plains bordering India on Wednesday. They decided to oppose the elections being held before a political deal to address their demands.

“The country is in election mode,” Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” told journalists on Monday evening. “The entire country is moving towards the elections.

“To address the demands of Madhes-based parties, we have decided to move (ahead) with the constitution amendment proposal that is taking place in the House from Tuesday,” he said.

According to constitutional obligations, Nepal has to hold polls of local bodies and for the provincial and central assemblies by February 2018.

The last local polls were held in May 1997.