Altogether 36 central-level leaders from various rival political parties have joined the SP and 80 other leaders of different ranks also joined in the last couple of months.
Political analysts believe that the entry of a large number of leaders from rival parties just ahead of elections may have a significant impact on the election results.
Many are bewildered as to what is the major factor drawing scores of leaders to the SP even though six of the nine SP lawmakers had quit the party to form two separate political parties led by Anil Jha and Ram Naresh Raya respectively.[break]
Speaking to Republica, SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato claimed that leaders from different parties have joined his party as it works for the cause of Madhes. "My party is the oldest party in Madhes politics, with a 22-year history," said Mahato, claiming that attraction towards the party was increasing as the leadership has announced not to hold any ministerial portfolios in future.
He claimed that the demands pressed by the party have become the established agenda of Madhes politics and "leaders from various parties are joining us as they want to work with a party espousing an established agenda."
"Our party is not engaged in ethnic politics," he said adding that the inclusive party structure also bears this out. He further said that they were in the process of becoming a national party as there was proportional representation in the party from various communities, including the Hill communities.
Mahato claimed that his party was not a party of Madhesi people alone. "There is 35 percent reservation in the CC for non-Madhesi people," he said.
"Currently we have expanded our organization to 71 districts and within a few weeks we will fill the gaps by forming organizations in the remaining four districts as well."
He further claimed that though the SP split into various fringe parties, this had no long term impact. "Madhesi parties are becoming weaker as their leaders are switching sides," said Mahato, claiming that this was not the case in his party as leaders from different parties were joining his organization. "None of the CC members of our party have switched sides, but on the contrary we have attracted more than 36 CC members from other parties, these being among the 116 leaders who joined us recently," he claimed.
According to analysts, political leaders are joining the SP as the party has an ´old legacy´.
Political analyst Chandrakishore said that the attraction of SP has increased as people take its as a non-Yadav party.
"Non-Yadav leaders feel safe joining the SP as people take the SP leadership as a non-Yadav leadership," he said, maintaining that these leaders believe the party has a ´good future´.
Leaders from opposition parties, however, refuted Mahato´s claim to be the oldest party of Madhes.
"Leaders are joining the SP as it has a weak leadership and they therefore find their political careers safer within it," said Rameshwor Ray Yadav, vice-chairman of Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar-led Madhesi People´s Right Forum-Democratic.
Refuting the SP claim that it is the oldest party of Madhes, Yadav said the Sarita Giri-led Nepal Sadbhavana Party is the oldest in Madhes and the Supreme Court has mandated that party to use the Sadbhavana Party´s historic election symbol of ´Panja Chhap´ [palm].
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