Nepal PM says will address Madhesis' issues after local polls

KATHMANDU: Nepal's new Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today reiterated his commitment to amend the Constitution to address the demands of agitating Madhesis after the second phase of local-level polls on June 28, saying they should not doubt his words.

Deuba, while addressing lawmakers in Parliament, stressed on the need to broaden the ownership of the new Constitution promulgated in 2015.

"It is unfortunate that we can't endorse the Constitution amendment bill at the moment as the second phase of local level polls is approaching," the prime minister was quoted as saying by Kathmandu Post.

He called on the Madhesi parties including the Rashtriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) to participate in the second phase of elections on June 28 and urged them not to doubt his commitment to passing the Constitution amendment bill.

Deuba said there is a slim chance of increasing the number of local units as the Supreme Court has issued a stay order on the issue.

He hoped that the opposition parties will also cooperate with the government in addressing the demands of Madhesis.

Deuba, who was elected Nepal Prime Minister on Tuesday, took over at a crucial time in the politics of Nepal, which is holding the first local-level polls in 20 years, but one that is being resisted by the Madhesi people.

The inhabitants of the southern Terai region, who share cultural ties with Indians, have been demanding more political representation.

He played an important role in amending Nepal's Constitution promulgated in September 2015 to address the demands of Madhes-based political parties.