Former Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh Discusses Defection, New Party, and Development Agenda in Saptari-2 Election Battleground

The electoral fervor is intense in Saptari Constituency Number 2 for the upcoming House of Representatives elections. In this context, the 'Rato Pati Ground Zero' team has reached Mansapur in Saptari to conduct on-site interviews with various candidates.

Satish Kumar Singh, who has held responsibilities ranging from Provincial Assembly member to Chief Minister of Madhes Province, is currently contesting for the House of Representatives as a candidate for the 'Swabhiman Party' after leaving the Janmat Party. Why did he betray the party that gave him a ticket and made him Chief Minister? Why did he reject offers from major political parties? And why does he want to ascend to the House of Representatives?

Here is the edited excerpt of the conversation with former Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh, focusing on these and other contemporary issues:

You still had time left in your Provincial Assembly term, so why did you leave it to contest for the House of Representatives?

The environment to work within the party (Janmat Party) from which I contested and won the Provincial Assembly election ceased to exist. We are people who have always engaged in politics with a spirit of service among the public. We engage in politics for honor and reputation; we seek respect for ourselves and give respect to others. Acts like buying, selling, and brokerage in politics cannot be done by us.

From the day I joined that party, I felt I had joined the wrong party. But there was hope that things would gradually improve. However, the ailment became 'chronic'. When the situation made it impossible to work there, I resigned.

After that, I received offers from various parties, but I decided to form my own Madhes-centric party that suits our soil. Saptari is the historic land of Gajendranarayan Singh and Ramraja Prasad Singh. At that time, people called them mad when they spoke of federalism and republicanism, but today both concepts have been implemented in the country. Therefore, we have registered this Swabhiman Party with the resolve not to repeat the mistakes and shortcomings made by Madhesi parties in the past and have entered the election fray.

There is an accusation against you that you betrayed the very person who gave you the ticket, fielded you in the election, got you elected, and even made you Chief Minister, by splitting the party?

Rather than saying he gave me a ticket, the reality is that during his ten years in politics, he didn't have anyone capable of contesting elections against him. I was the one who brought people capable of contesting elections in both seats 'Ka' and 'Kha' at the last moment. He himself knows what my contribution was there.

Many people say that Satish Singh won because of CK Raut. But the public will show who won because of whom. CK Raut did not vote to elect me or anyone else; the people voted based on trust. The people voted based on a development model, not just on faces.

Initially, I proposed an alliance to him, saying, 'You contest for the House of Representatives, and I will contest for the Provincial Assembly.' But he said, 'We are both young, let's contest from the same party.' I joined that party unconditionally. For ten days, my communication with my father was cut off, but I managed to convince my family. However, from the very first day in the party, I faced problems that I never disclosed publicly.

As for the Chief Minister post, I was made one after the party secured it. But among the 13 MPs there, who had experience even as a ward member? I had the experience of working as Mayor for five years and being immersed among the people. Even today, the public is evaluating the work done by Satish Singh. They only tried to use me.

Is this happening because your ego was hurt by having to consult junior brothers in the party and take directions from the secretariat? Is it an ego clash with CK Raut?

No, this is not politics of ego. This is politics of development and prosperity, politics of agenda. In politics, there is no ego, enmity, or personal vendetta. This is purely a political journey for my own honor and reputation, the self-respect of the people, and the development of Madhes as a whole and my constituency.

You accuse Dr. CK Raut of nepotism, but you yourself became the party chairman?

I registered this party while I was still an MP. Therefore, it is natural that I took responsibility for the party. A person engaged in politics, regardless of their family background, should not be restricted if they have the capability and the desire to engage in politics.

You face another criticism: first, you contested for Mayor, then Provincial Assembly member, then Chief Minister, and now you are moving to the House of Representatives. Do you just run wherever you get an opportunity?

This is actually a matter of fortune! I have experience at both the local level and the provincial government level. How many people today can lobby for local or provincial issues in the center? I believe I might be the first person in Nepal to contest the central election after gaining experience in both local and provincial levels.

If the people elect me tomorrow, I will work for them. Politics is not like civil service where if you become a Section Officer, you must retire or be promoted as a Secretary. This is a medium to serve the people; one works wherever the people send them.

It is heard that major parties like Congress, UML, JSP, and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) also offered you a chance to contest. Why did you choose your own new, challenging party over all those offers?

If I were only playing politics to win elections, I could have contested from those major parties. Perhaps there is hardly any party that didn't offer me a chance. But I thought of one thing—I registered this new party to protect the Madhes issue, the problems of Madhes, and the self-respect of Madhes. I took this risk to overcome the shortcomings and extreme disappointment seen in Madhesi parties. I am not in politics just for a good position or to win elections. Unless we stand on our own strength, the anomalies in Madhes will not be resolved.

How do you take the criticism that you came here because you failed as Chief Minister?

Only negative people who oppose me say this. You all analyze the statistics yourselves. During my tenure in the province, the highest budget expenditure occurred. I managed to more than double revenue collection. I brought complementary and special grants from a zero state to around 5/6 billion.

Work related to the Public Service Commission had been stalled since 2078 BS. There were about 15 advertisements where candidates passed the written exam but hadn't had the oral exam, results weren't out, or the syllabus wasn't even finalized. I completed all those pending tasks. Now, nearly 4,000 new vacancies are coming out.

Among all seven provinces, only the Madhes Province government started MBBS studies. All these achievements happened during my tenure. However, those who are afraid of the stir Satish Singh's work might cause in certain districts are spreading the illusion that I failed. I have secured all the evidence of the work I have done among the people.

Finally, why should the people of Saptari-2 vote for you? What are your agendas?

The people of Saptari-2 know Satish Singh. When I was the Rural Municipality Chairman, I provided free rice and wheat harvesting machines. I constructed concrete roads on muddy paths. I have not engaged in politics by making verbal promises in the air or writing statuses on Facebook. People complained that leaders don't return after winning elections, but I have reached the doorsteps of the people up to 15/20 times, leaving no ward behind.

Even when I was Chief Minister, I was directly connected to the people. When someone has a problem, they call me. A leader asking for votes doesn't feed people or build their houses, but when people are in trouble, they expect my leader will listen. I have never let that trust break.

Regarding roads, look 2 kilometers away; double-lane paved roads are being constructed. Roads from Chhinnamasta to Nahad, which were stranded for years, are being built. Previously, politics here was only about vote banks, and development work was 'zero'. When it rained, motorcycles would slip, and patients had to be carried on stretchers to the hospital. Today, double-lane paving is happening in those places.

I have engaged with the people for politics of development, not vote banks. Just as a laborer asks for their wages at the end of the day, I am asking for votes as wages for the work I have done among the people.