Crisis Strategy: Madheshi Parties in Unity Talks

Rudra Karki/KATHMANDU. Madhesh based parties fragmented following their rise as the third axis in Nepal’s politics in the post political period of first Constituent Assembly elections. Situation reverted back and in second edition of the CA, most of these regional powers have been relegated to the fourth position. To cope with this unexpected marginalization in the new CA, some of the parties in this array of Madhesh-based parties have initiated unity talks.

Upendra Yadav led Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum Nepal, Mahanth Thakur led Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party and Rajendra Mahato led Sadhbawana Party  are presently in this talks, reports confirmed.

The meeting held at the Bhaktapur based residence of Mahant Thakur was participated by influential leaders from all these parties, sources in the know-how confirmed.

The source confirmed that the meeting has agreed to form the new party in the Mahant’s leadership and that the discussions have also resolved portfolio allocations to each member of the uniting parties.

Upendra Yadav and Rajendra Mahato have agreed on remaining second men in the party’s leadership hierarchy.

Others to join the second-in-position of this party are Bharat Bimal Yadav from MJF Nepal, Hridesh Tripathi of Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party and Laxman Lal Karna from Sadbhawana Party, if they chose to join it.

However the discussion is yet to finalize portfolio ranks of lower strata of party membership, general assembly of the proposed new party.

Source claimed that more discussions among senior leadership are on the cards to resolve the remaining discrepancies, while hinting that the talks were moving in a positive direction.