KATHMANDU, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's Madhes-based ethnic parties on Friday decided to boycott the second round of local body elections slated for June 14 announcing a fresh round of protests.
At a press conference held in the Capital, the Madhesi parties under the banner of United Federal Alliance announced that they will launch series of protests in Southern Terai plains to disrupt election process.
The alliance stated in its press release that it would impose general strikes on June 1 and 2 in Madhes and Limbuwan region to thwart the second phase of elections as candidates will have to file their nominations on June 2.
Nepal held the first round of local body elections on May 14 in provinces 3, 4 and 6, which was a major step of the government to implement the new constitution promulgated in 2015.
The latest move by the Madhes-based parties has thrown into disarray the plans of the government to hold second round of local body elections in 1, 2, 5 and 7 provinces of the country that border India, observers said.
"We will padlock election offices in all municipalities and rural municipalities on May 30 and bring out torch rallies in all the district headquarters, municipalities, and major parts of the districts on May 31," the release said.
The fundamental demand of the Madhes-based parties is to change demarcation of the provincial boundaries which the government has failed to fulfill, the released said.
A key leader of the agitating alliance, Mahantha Thakur, told the media that the revised constitutional amendment tabled by the government at the House failed to address their demands, forcing them to launch the fresh agitation programs.
The Madhes-based parties, which represent Nepal's southern Terai, announced their unification and the launch of a new group called Rashtriya Janata Party last month.
The Madhes-based parties have been demanding more political representation at the provincial and upper house and re-demarcation of provincial boundaries.
Rounds of talks between the Madhes-based parties and the government failed to yield positive results.
Earlier, the government had registered the new amendment at the House in a bid to persuade the Madhes-based parties to participate in all three tiers of elections -- local, provincial and central.
Over 50 people were killed in violent clashes with police in Nepal's southern Terai belt during the anti-constitution movement after Nepal promulgated the new statute in 2015 without involvement of the Madhes-based parties.
