Madhes-based parties divided on land ordinance

Kathmandu, February 28 — The Madhes-based parties have not been able to reach a consensus on the land-related ordinance introduced by the government. 

The eight-party alliance formed by the Madhes-centered parties, which had initially agreed to stand together on common issues and agendas, appears divided on the land ordinance. 

Among the eight-party alliance, the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LSP), Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N), Rashtriya Mukti Party-Nepal (RMP-N), Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), Janata Pragatishil Party (JPP), and Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) have differing views on the ordinance. 

After the ordinance was introduced, the parties in the federal government, including the JSP and LSP, reached an agreement on the division of districts for the formation of land dispute resolution commissions.

Out of the 77 districts, Congress and UML have taken leadership in 37 districts each, while JSP and LSP have received one district each. This division has led to the softening of their stance on the ordinance.

The chairman of JSP-N, Upendra Yadav, who is key to passing the ordinance, has warned that his party would not support any of the other five ordinances unless the land ordinance is withdrawn.

JSP-N has suggested that the government take back the land ordinance.

On Friday, JSP-N organized a comprehensive discussion on the land ordinance, where leaders from various parties, including Madhav Kumar Nepal, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Mahantha Thakur, were invited as speakers.

LSP, led by Mahantha Thakur, and the Janamat Party, led by Dr. C.K. Raut, have called for amendments to the land ordinance.

These two ruling parties have clarified that while they support the other five ordinances, the land ordinance requires amendment. However, the support or rejection of these two parties does not hold significant weight in the Parliament, as the Congress-UML coalition has a majority in the House of Representatives.

In the National Assembly, however, the ruling party would need the support of JSP-N to pass the ordinance.

Ashok Rai’s JSP has stated that the ordinance is acceptable but emphasized that it should not be misused.

The JSP has argued that people from both the hills and the Terai should have equal access to land. The party’s General Secretary, Istiyak Rai, confirmed in an interview with Ratopati that the party supports the ordinance but has cautioned against its misuse.

The Janamat Party, which leads the Madhes provincial government, has expressed awareness about the ordinance but has not yet taken a clear stance on whether to support or oppose it.

The parties outside Parliament, including the Tamalo Party, RMP-N, and JPP, have opposed the land ordinance.

The President of JPP, Hridayesh Tripathi, expressed opposition to the land ordinance and supported the stance of JSP-N and LSP.