Nepal in fresh political crisis

Political parties from southern Nepal withdrew support from the government yesterday, weakening an already fragile administration and throwing long overdue elections further into doubt.

An alliance of ethnic Madhesi parties joined the government when it formed last August on the proviso that the constitution be amended to grant the indigenous plains people greater political representation.

But the legislation has been deadlocked in parliament for months, angering the Madhesis who had warned the government they would not remain idle.

"We had given the government a seven-day ultimatum to address our demands, but they did nothing," Laxman Lal Karna, a leader of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), told AFP.

The office of the speaker of the parliament confirmed they had received a notice of withdrawal from the Madhesi alliance.

The government had anticipated a rebellion by the Madhesi, and last week managed to cobble together enough extra support to ensure its brittle coalition retained a majority in parliament.

"The government still has the numbers, but when it was formed it was to amend the constitution with the Madhesis," said Kathmandu-based political analyst Vijay Kant Karna.

"Now a new kind of conflict arises."

The Madhesis have vowed to disrupt local elections slated for May -- the first in nearly two decades -- by striking across the lowlands that border India where around half of Nepal's population lives.

Madhesis staged a months-long border blockade when Nepal's constitution was passed in September 2015, leading to a crippling shortage of essential goods in the landlocked Himalayan nation.

More than 50 people died in clashes before parliament agreed to amend the constitution and redraw federal boundaries, a move that would grant Madhesis greater political clout.