KATHMANDU, April 7: Seven Terai-Madhesh-based parties formed a political alliance for the fourth time last Thursday, this time without including the word 'Madhesi' in naming its coalition. The previous three alliances had included the term. The parties said they formed the alliance to protect federalism and the republic.
They held that the Election Commission had drafted a law to impose a two-party system, that the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML were collaborating to eliminate the opposition from parliament, and that the election threshold limit was being raised to erase the existence of small parties. Which his why the madhesh-centered parties maintained that they have united to protect federalism and the republic and to develop a common stance on constitutional amendments, thus forming the 'Federal Democratic Alliance.'
Manish Suman, the spokesperson of the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-Nepal), said that this alliance would be long-term, unlike the previous ones. "This time, the alliance will be long-term. We have conducted a lot of groundwork and discussions before forming it," Suman said. "We formed this alliance to protect federalism, the republic, and secularism."
The alliance includes JSPN, the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP), the Terai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party, the Rastriya Mukti Party, the Janata Pragatisheel Party, and the Janamat Party.
The Federal Democratic Alliance announced its formation through a joint program in Kathmandu. The alliance's leadership includes Upendra Yadav from JSP-Nepal, Ranjita Shrestha from NUP, Mahanta Thakur from LSP, Birkesh Chandra Lal from Terai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party, Rajendra Mahato from Rastriya Mukti Party, Hridayesh Tripathi from Janata Pragatisheel Party, and CK Raut from Janamat Party.
The Democratic Madhesi Front was formed three times: twice in 2064 BS and once in 2070 BS. In 2064 BS, the Sadbhawana Party, led by Rajendra Mahato, and the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, led by Upendra Yadav, formed the United Madhesi Front. That same year, Mahanta Thakur founded the Terai-Madhes Loktantraik Party.
The United Madhesi Front later added Terai-Madhes Loktantraik Party and renamed the alliance to the United Democratic Madhesi Front. In 2070 BS, eight Terai-Madhesi-based parties united to form the United Democratic Madhesi Front.
At that time, the front included the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum (Democratic) led by Bijay Gachchhadar, the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum led by Upendra Yadav, the Sadbhawana Party, Terai-Madhes Loktantraik Party, Forum Ganatantra, the Rastriya Madhesh Sadbhawana Party, the Terai Madhesh Sadbhawana Party, and the Nepal Sadbhawana Party.
At that time, Rajendra Mahato led the Sadbhawana Party, Rajkishor Yadav led Forum Ganatantra, Sharatsingh Bhandari led the Rastriya Madhesh Sadbhawana Party, Mahendra Yadav led the Terai Madhesh Sadbhawana Party, and Anil Jha led the Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NESSPA). In 2074 BS, six Tarai-Madhes-based parties united to form the Rastriya Janata Party, and the United Democratic Madhesi Front became active.
"This is a new alliance, not a continuation of the old front. This time, we have formed the alliance by raising critical issues and concerns," said Keshav Jha. "Currently, some are trying to impose a two-party system under the guise of increasing the threshold limit. The republic and federalism are at risk. With these concerns in mind, we have declared the formation of this alliance."
This time, the alliance does not include the Janata Samawadi Party (JSP), led by Ashok Rai. "We invited JSP to join the alliance. However, JSP's chairman, Rai, stated that since we are currently in the government, it would not be appropriate to join the alliance while in power. He mentioned that they would join in the future," said Keshav Jha. However, JSP-Nepal spokesperson Suman explained that the party was not invited because there is an ongoing case in the Supreme Court regarding its legal status.
Janmat-NUP to announce merger by April 28
Janmat Party and NUP are set to announce their merger by April 28. Rajan Gurung, the Deputy General Secretary of NUP, confirmed that a joint meeting of the party's top leaders and working committee, held in Bardiya on Sunday, decided to merge with Janmat Party by April 28.
To facilitate the merger, NUP and Janmat have formed a working committee led by Ganga Chaudhary and Abdul Khan, respectively. "The unified party will be called 'Nagarik Janmat Party,' its election symbol will be an umbrella, with Sike Raut as the president, Resham Chaudhary as the patron, and Ranjita Shrestha in the third position. This has almost been finalized," Gurung said.
However, NUP Chairman Shrestha stated that some issues related to the merger remain unresolved. Another leader from NUP, Ramlal Dagora Tharu, noted that the ranking of the three top leaders is still undecided. According to party sources, Shrestha has expressed hesitation about accepting the third position, but Chaudhary has been pressuring her to accept it.