KATHMANDU, JAN 11 -
Some senior leaders from Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal have expressed dissatisfaction that the party chairman has not been informing them about his ongoing talks with the leaders of other Madhes-based parties for possible unification.
MJF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav is said to be holding parleys with the leaders from Sadbhawana Party (SP) and Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) unbeknownst to his own party. Although the central work procedure committee of MJF-N had recently decided to go for unification with ‘like-minded’ parties, some key leaders in the party resent Yadav keeping them in the dark and going about meeting the leaders from other parties, negotiating the terms for merger.
“Upendraji has not informed any formal setup within the party be it central committee, political committee or any other such mechanism,” said senior MJF-N leader Bharat Bimal Yadav.
He went on to add that they have been receiving information about the ongoing negotiations from the media.
Echoing Bharat Bimal, party central committee member Arjun Thapa also lamented that there had been no serious consultation within the party on the matter.
Yadav, however, denies these allegations. He said nothing concrete has happened so far that needs to be informed in the party.
“We are just holding meetings over cup of tea, weighing possibilities for unification. I will let the party know once things are substantial. Also the party has already decided to go for unification,” clarified Yadav.
The three parties, who are the original members of Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, are holding parleys for unification, but this is not the first time the topic was broached between the triad.
In the rum up to the November 19 Constituent Assembly elections, the three parties had held talks for forming alliance, which did not materialise.
The leaders, however, sound optimistic this time. “The leadership is serious about the new engagement this time around,” said TMLP Spokesperson Sarvendra Shukla.
He added his party could float two models—presidium system, wherein all the three party chairs would take collective decision, or they could also go for a system comprising chairman, senior leader and co-chairman.
Leaders from MJF-N and SP, however, said they had not yet given any thought on the possible unification model.
‘Another Madhesi alliance in progress’
A separate alliance of Madhes-centric parties is said to be taking place under the Bijaya Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik. Multiple sources have told the Post that a host of leaders such as Sarat Singh Bhandari, Rajkishore Yadav, Mahendra Yadav, Anil Jha, Biswendra Paswan, Rukumini Chaudary and Meghraj Sahani are in talks with Gachhadar in this regard.
“Since the three other parties are going for unification, it is natural that these parties also try to forge alliance,” said a leader from Bhandari-led Rastriya Madhes Samjbadi Party. But Anil Jha dismissed the reports about the ongoing negotiations about the merger.
Sources familiar with the development, however, maintain that Jha and Mahendra Yadav would prefer to join Mahanta Thakur-led party/alliance. Jha and Rajkishore along with Sarita Giri and Amar Yadav have already agreed to form alliance. (PR)
