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8-parties reach understanding to resolve Terai unrest; PM to address nation on Wednesday

The meeting of the top leaders of the eight parties ended at Baluwatar on Tuesday evening after the leaders agreed to restructure the state based on federal system, adopt mixed electoral system and go for fresh delimitation of electoral constituencies based on population and geography.

The meeting agreed to go for federal democratic system through the Constituent Assembly (CA).

"The eight parties have agreed to embrace federal democratic system through the CA; adopt mixed electoral system – fifty percent in the existing First-Past-The-Post system and fifty percent in the proportional representation system; and also to undertake fresh delimitation of existing constituencies based on latest census," said Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula. The total number of 205 constituencies will remain the same but they will be redistributed based on increase of population in certain regions.

He added that the Prime Minister will address the nation on Wednesday morning (around 9 to 10 am) by including all these agreements aimed at resolving the ongoing unrest in Terai.

Sitaula also informed that the eight parties have concluded that conspirators had engaged in violence in Terai unrest and vowed to take action against them.

Earlier, UML's standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikary, too, had informed media about the agreement on federal restructuring of the state. "I want to tell all the people of Terai, indigenous community and Dalits that the eight parties have agreed to embrace federal democratic system," said Adhikary.

The eight parties' meeting was held in order to resolve the ongoing unrest in Terai where protesters have been demanding federal restructuring of the state; electoral system based on proportional representation; and fresh delimitation of electoral constituencies based on population. nepalnews.com Jan 30 07