Experts say proposed front need to focus on Madhesh agenda
KATHMANDU, JANUARY 31
In light of series ordinances and ruling parties banding together to introduce new thresholds for becoming national parties through new legislation, Madhes-centric parties have escalated their efforts to form a new front.
However, experts and people who keep a close eye on Madhes affairs argue that they should be at the forefront of the Madhesh agenda, rather than for personal interests.
Today, after a meeting of eight Madhesh-centric parties at Singha Durbar, they agreed to determine the task force.
The negotiation committee discussed the matter several times. Although the discussion led to an agreement on cooperation between the parties, a common agenda could not be prepared.
However, the meeting held at Singha Durbar on Thursday has decided on the decision of the eight-member task force committee.
The task force includes Manish Suman from Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N), Laxman Lal Karna from Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Nepal (LSP-N), Dr. Sharad Singh Yadav from Janamat Party, Mohammad Istiyak Rai from Janta Samajwadi Party (JSP), Gangaram Chaudhary from Nagrik Unmukti Party (NUP), Dr. Shivaji Yadav from Janata Pragatisheel Party (JPP), and Brajes Singh from Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP). There will be one member from the Rashtriya Mukti Party (RMP) led by Rajendra Mahato, according to spokesperson Suman.
According to reports, the ruling coalition's two main parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and the UML, have reached an agreement to amend the constitution. In the constitutional amendment, there is discussion about raising the threshold and eliminating the proportional election system. The same conversation has prompted Madhesh-centric parties to band together.
Speaking with The Himalayan Times political analyst and Madhesh affairs expert Chandra Kishore, he emphasised that Madhesh-centric parties are uniting out of fear for their political future if the threshold percentage is increased.
"The existence of Madhesh-centric parties is in jeopardy, with the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML majority government prioritising their agenda and putting people in positions and places that overshadow others," he said.
"NC and UML have used Madhesi votes for personal gain, taking advantage of differences among Madhesi leaders," Kishore added.
He argued that Madheshi leaders are no different, as Madhesh-centric parties have often aligned with the major parties in exchange for power.
"They capitalised on Madhesi sentiments and manipulated them whenever necessary. As a result, it is high time for them to admit their mistake and return to their people, raising their concerns in parliament and remaining steadfast in their agendas," he added.
Experts believe that when unity was needed, the Madhesh centric leaders became divided on trivial matters for their personal gain, ultimately exploiting Madheshi sentiments. Leaders leveraged Madheshi votes for their own interests and to advance the careers of their close associates, they argue.
Recently, a faction of leaders split Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N), led by Upendra Yadav, and formed another party called Janata Samajwadi Party under the leadership of Ashok Rai.
Previously, prominent Madhesh-centric leaders such as Upendra Yadav, Rajendra Mahato, and Mahantha Thakur formed a front, which was later dismantled.
Rajendra Mahato recently left Mahantha Thakur's Loktantrik Samajwadi Party-Nepal (LSP-N) to establish the Rastriya Mukti Party (RMP).
According to political analyst and senior journalist Anant Anurag, while the unification of Madhesh-centric party is necessary to achieve a common Madhesh agenda, the unification or alliance should be based on the Madhesi people's desire for a left-behind agenda, such efforts should be driven by the aspirations of Madheshi people rather than personal and political motives.
"Unification should not be a means to safeguard personal position, gain a few ministerial posts, or elevate certain leaders," Anurag told THT.
"They have attempted unification in the past, but it failed due to their greed and self-interest. They have begun discussing it once again. However, the threat remains, as their efforts are largely driven by concerns over the threshold issues raised by ruling parties NC and UML."