Kathmandu, April 2

Constituents of United Democratic Madhesi Front have intensified efforts, albeit informally, to form a united Madhesi party.

General Secretary of Sadbhawana Party Manish Kumar Suman said he discussed merger issues with General Secretary of National Madhes Socialist Party Keshav Jha and senior leader of Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party Nepal Ram Naresh Ray.

“We have started discussion with second generation leaders of UDMF constituents. We are under pressure to form a united Madhesi party,” Suman said adding that UDMF was under pressure as people of Madhes wanted this to happen and also because of the new law that fixes vote threshold for becoming national parties. He said his party would soon hold unity talks with all UDMF constituents.

Suman said UDMF leaders who spoke at a condolence meeting in Saptari recently vowed to unite to achieve the goals of Madhesi empowerment.

Suman said there were two kinds of thoughts among Madhesi leaders.

“There are some leaders who say that all seven constituents of the UDMF should unite, while others think parties ready to merge should form a united party and continue efforts to merge with others who are not ready in the first phase,” Suman added.

He said he did not know the how Federal Socialist Forum Nepal Chair Upendra Yadav and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Chair Mahantha Thakur felt about the unity issues.

“Yadav thinks he is leading a national party now as he has Janajati leaders in his party now. As far as I know Yadav’s party will merge with the Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Nepal very soon.”

“There are UDMF leaders who do not view Bhattarai as a Madhesi and his party as a Madhesi outfit. We will have to wait to see what role the Yadav-led party plays,” Suman added.

General Secretary of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party Sarvendranath Shukla said all leaders were now talking of unifying Madhesi parties.

“People of Madhes want us to unite in championing the cause of Madhesi empowerment. Now we have no option but to unite,” Shukla said, adding that his party was carrying out activities keeping in mind the possibility of merger with UDMF constituents.

Nepal Sadbhawana Party Chair Anil Kumar Jha said his party would not be an obstacle to unity if that helped protect the broader interest of Madhesis, but since his party was established by legendary late Gajendra Narayan Singh the united party should continue Singh’s legacy.

“I might give up my position as this party’s Chair, but I cannot change the name and symbol of the party that was established by legendry leader Gajendra Narayan Singh,” he added.