Internal Rift in Federal Democratic Forum After Endorsing Balen Shah for Prime Minister

Intense dissatisfaction has emerged within the constituent parties of the Federal Democratic Forum (Sanghiya Loktantrik Morcha) after it issued congratulations and expressed support for Balendra Shah (Balen) as a future Prime Minister.

Leaders of the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSP Nepal) in particular have publicly objected to this decision. They have interpreted the forum's decision as an act of 'political helplessness' and an attempt to cover up their defeat.

Madhesi-centric parties failed to achieve the expected success in the recently concluded general elections. Amid this, the Federal Democratic Forum had issued a statement mentioning that seeing Balendra Shah as Prime Minister would be a matter of pride for the Madhesi, Tharu, and Indigenous communities. However, leaders from JSP Nepal, an influential component of the forum, have rejected this and reacted strongly.

It was reported that the decision to congratulate and support Balen was made in a forum meeting chaired by senior JSP Nepal leader Mahantha Thakur. However, following that decision, some influential leaders of JSP Nepal have criticized it through social media and public statements.

JSP Nepal leader Surendra Kumar Jha has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the forum's decision. Writing on social media, he stated that instead of reviewing the defeat suffered by the parties in the recent elections, aligning in support of Balen is an attempt to evade political responsibility. In the elections, the parties affiliated with the forum competed separately, and many leaders even forfeited their deposits. He commented that in such a situation, supporting another leader without reviewing the defeat is contrary to political honesty.

Jha also questioned the leaders who previously criticized Balen by saying he was 'not a Madhesi,' but are now addressing him as a 'son of Madhes.' He questioned, 'Which face do those who screamed until their throats burst saying Balen is not Madhesi use today to call him a son of Madhes?' He described such behavior as akin to 'playing the despicable game of congratulations and good wishes after burning down the house and turning it to ashes.' Furthermore, he suggested that leaders over 65 years of age should step away from active politics, take a rest, and spend time with their families.

Another JSP leader, Shailendra Sah, labeled the Federal Democratic Forum not as a platform for people's movements but as a 'club' for reconciling leaders' interests. According to him, the forum failed to create any common strategy before the election, and there was no cooperation between the parties. He accused the forum's activities of being limited only to holding formal meetings, taking photos, and issuing press releases. Stating that the relevance of the forum has ended in such a situation, he suggested that dissolving it would be appropriate.

JSP leader Purna Basnet also expressed dissatisfaction with the forum's decision. According to him, it is contradictory that the same Madhesi parties that opposed Balendra Shah when he, as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, ran bulldozers over scrap dealers and slum settlements, are now standing in support of Balen.

Similarly, JSP Nepal leader Bobby Singh commented that the forum is merely a structure created for holding formal meetings. According to her, even after the formation of the forum, no common program or strategy could be formulated among the parties.