Kathmandu, April 20

The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal today hosted a tea reception on the occasion of the party’s first founding anniversary.

The RJP-N was formed after six Madhes-based parties — Mahantha Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Rajendra Mahato-led Sadbhawana Party, Sharat Singh Bhandari-led Rastriya Madhes Socialist Party, Mahendra Yadav-led Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal, Rajkishor Yadav-led Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Republican and Anil Jha-led Nepal Sadbhawana Party merged a year ago.

Out of six presidium members of the unified party, Mahato, Bhandari, Jha and Raj Kishor Yadav were present in the tea reception party organised at Regency Banquet in Gyaneshwor. RJP-N presidium members Thakur and Mahendra Yadav have been receiving treatment in Delhi, according to RJP-N Spokesperson Keshav Jha.

According to him, Thakur has been receiving treatment for renal failure while three stents have been placed in Thakur’s heart.

He said Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and leaders Prakash Sharan Mahat, Ramesh Lekhak, Arjun Narsing KC; CPN-UML leaders Bishnu Paudel and Bishnu Rimal; Chief of Army Staff  Rajendra Chhetri and Lieutenant General Purna Chandra Thapa; Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri, UN country head, and EU representatives attended the function.

Meanwhile, a disgruntled group of RJP-N led by party Vice-chair Ashok Kumar Yadav today formed its own party. They organised a press conference at Reporters Club to announce the formation of their new party, which has been named RJP-Democratic.

Yadav said 32 Central Committee members of the RJP-N had pledged to join his group. Yadav said out of 32 members 20 were the former CC members of the Aam Admi Party that had merged to create the RJPN last year.

Yadav said his group decided to form a new party as members of the RJP-N presidium ignored them. “The RJP-N is not a party. It is just like a front where six members of the RJP-N support their own factions,” he added. The new party also formed an 11-member ad hoc committee under Ashok Kumar Yadav to run party’s affairs  until the party’s general convention.

Yadav said his group decided to form a separate party because the RJP-N had failed to get the constitution amended.  “RJP-N leaders abandoned Madhesis’ demands and thus betrayed the Madhesi people,” Yadav added.