Madhesh-based parties explore unification following election defeat

Kathmandu. Following their defeat in the elections, Madhesh-based parties are working towards unification.

The initiative has been taken by Mahantha Thakur, patron of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal. While all Madhesh-based parties faced defeat, Thakur, who succeeded in becoming a National Assembly member, initiated efforts for unity among the parties.

He has already begun consultations with leaders of these parties. However, this is not the first time these parties have attempted to unite. In 2074, six parties merged to form the Rastriya Janata Party (RJP) Nepal. Later, in Baisakh 2077, the RJP and the Samajbadi Party led by Upendra Yadav merged to form the JSP Nepal.

In Bhadra 2078, the JSP Nepal split, with Mahantha Thakur, Rajendra Mahato, and Sharatsingh Bhandari forming the Lospa Nepal. Less than five years later, in Poush 2082, Lospa Nepal and JSP Nepal reunited to form the current JSP Nepal.

JSP Nepal leader Ramkumar Sharma stated that they are now planning to unite with remaining Madhesh-based parties, including the Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal, Janamat Party, Nepal Sadbhawana Party, and Nepal Federal Samajbadi Party, to create a broader political force in the Madhesh region.

It is understood that JSP Nepal patron Thakur is preparing to advance the unification process through discussions with other top leaders of Madhesh-based parties.

However, political analyst Vijaykant Karna argues that unification under the current leadership would be meaningless. He says, 'Since the leaders of these parties have been defeated not only politically but also morally, it would be appropriate for them to resign from their posts and hand over the party to the younger generation before discussing unity.'

JSP Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, Janamat Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, and JSP Nepal patron Mahantha Thakur must resign from their respective positions and hand over responsibility to the youth for the Madheshi people to trust them again.

Madhesh affairs expert Chandra Kishore stated that the lack of votes indicates that the Madheshi people have rejected their leadership. He noted that the Madhesh has moved away from these parties, and connecting it again requires more than just old leaders and old thinking. 'There is a need to change both the slogans and the leaders,' he said.

He described the current state of Madheshi leaders as one of 'crematorium detachment,' where they speak emotionally as if they have reformed. 'That is a different matter. Such things happen after returning from a crematorium, but it is unclear what to do next,' he said. 'After facing defeat, they will come up with various measures, but it is clear that the Madhesh will no longer support the same old rhetoric and leaders. It would be better to change themselves first before moving forward with other things,' he advised.

JSP Nepal General Secretary Ramkumar Sharma also believes that Madhesh politics cannot move forward with the old mindset. He says, 'The chairmen of the Madhesh-based parties should be given a respectful farewell, and the party leadership should be handed over to the younger generation; only then will Madhesh politics move forward in a new way.' He suggested that senior leaders could be given honorary positions within the party while the second or third generation takes charge, followed by a broader party unification process involving Madheshi, Tharu, Janajati, and Khas-Arya communities.

Santosh Mehta, General Secretary of the Rastriya Mukti Party, states that party unity is impossible with old thinking, especially when the country has a 36-year-old Prime Minister and a cabinet of similar age, with the nation now in the hands of the Gen Z generation. 'Unless one thinks a step ahead of Balen, there is no point in talking about party unity or advancing a political mission. Balen is a Madheshi, a youth, and has a different way of thinking; Madhesh-based parties must consider how to be different from that before moving forward,' he said.

Unification attempts have been made in the past as well. JSP Nepal and Lospa Nepal united during the election period, but it did not yield positive results, meaning the Madheshi people did not accept it. The Rastriya Mukti Party Nepal, JSP (Ashok Rai), and Nagarik Unmukti Party contested the election under a single symbol, but the Tharu and Madheshi people did not trust them.