Janmat Party Forms Alliance with Three Parties, Surprising JSP Nepal

Kathmandu. Dr. CK Raut-led Janmat Party has decided to form a national alternative front by uniting with Shram Sanskriti Party, Ujyalo Nepal Party, and Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party (Pratoka).

However, leaders of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) Nepal have expressed surprise at this decision. A leader of JSP Nepal said that they were surprised to hear that Janmat Party Chairman Raut, despite meeting and holding discussions with their party chairman several times, has now initiated efforts for a front and unity with another party.

Discussions were held several times between JSP Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav and leaders of Janmat Party regarding party unity. After the unity process moved forward, JSP Nepal formed a negotiation committee under the convenership of leader Rakam Chemjong for further talks.

Meanwhile, on Asar 1, Janmat Party also formed a negotiation committee under the convenership of Narendra Prasad Chaudhary. However, JSP Nepal leaders were taken aback when Janmat Party mentioned the names of three parties and stated its intention to form a front and pursue unity.

JSP Nepal leaders say that the way Janmat Party issued a statement and advanced the issue of unity and front-building has spoiled the atmosphere for unity. While a positive message was conveyed to the Madhesi people after the discussion of unity between JSP Nepal and Janmat Party, they complain that the latest statement has damaged the environment of trust.

Janmat Party Vice Chairman and negotiation committee convenor Narendra Prasad Chaudhary, however, claimed that the unity efforts with JSP Nepal were not progressing at the pace reported in the media. He said, 'We will talk not only with three parties but also with other parties including JSP Nepal, if necessary.'

He clarified that discussions would be held with all parties with whom there is an agreement, and since the formal negotiation process with JSP Nepal has not even begun, it has not ended either. He stated that discussions could be held again as needed.

Chairman Raut of Janmat Party, who was initially against front-building and unity, has recently engaged in working alliances and front-building with various parties, but those efforts have not been successful. He had also formed a working alliance with the then Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (LoSapa) led by Chairman Mahanta Thakur, but that alliance did not last even a month.

After that, he formed a working alliance with the then Nagarik Unmukti Party led by Chairman Ranjita Shrestha, but that working alliance also broke down midway.

Later, the process of unity itself moved forward with the same party, but the process was disrupted when the then patron of Nagarik Unmukti Party, Reshamlal Chaudhary, was arrested from the venue of the unity announcement program.

After that, he joined the Federal Democratic Front formed by various parties in the Terai-Madhes region, but he remained absent from most of the front's meetings. He also opposed some of the front's decisions. After the political equation change on Falgun 21, although Raut held discussions with Yadav several times for party unity, he has now put that on hold and is engaged in efforts to form a front with Shram Sanskriti Party and others.

JSP Nepal leader Shailendra Sah said, 'Discussions were held for unity between Janmat Party and JSP Nepal. The party chairmen themselves had advanced the discussions, but those talks are currently suspended. I am hearing that Janmat Party is now forming a front with other parties.'

He stated that they have no complaints about this and that whoever finds common ground with whom, they will unite there. Sah informed that his party has also formed a negotiation committee and is holding discussions for cooperation and unity with other parties.