Political fragmentation

The split of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), the sixth-largest political party of the country, has not only further complicated the Nepali political space but also once again shown that politics of Madhes-based parties is driven more by personal interests and ambitions rather than a common ideology that works as a strong, binding force. The split of Mahantha Thakur-led TMDP and the subsequent formation of TMDP, Nepal under the leadership of Mahendra Prasad Yadav, which comes a year-and-a-half after the split of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF), is also grossly unfair to the people of Tarai as it reduces the collective bargaining power of these parties on whom they had wholeheartedly bequeathed their trust.



That the split happened just when intense parleys for the formation of a new government are underway quite clearly tells us that the move is less an outcome of ideological differences within TMDP and more an attempt to grab plum posts in the new cabinet. It also shows that politics in Nepal, particularly in the Tarai, is still seen as a platform to further one’s greed rather than as a medium to serve the society and country. MPRF too had split in 2009 just before the formation of the incumbent government. The splinter faction led by Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar ended up supporting the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government while the mother party headed by Upendra Yadav opted to stay out.



The latest split also means that national politics will be even more complex in the coming days. With parties in parliament now reaching 28, the effort of any major party, whether it is the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML or UCPN (Maoist), to form a government will be no cakewalk. Accommodating the differing interests and demands of so many parties will certainly not be easy.



That also implies that we have to be prepared for yet another jumbo cabinet, perhaps bigger than the existing one, which is already the second-largest cabinet in the history of the country. It may also mean that more ministries will be created to satisfy the demands of the parties as it happened last time when the Ministry of Water Resources was divided into the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Irrigation. If that happens, imagine the unnecessary and unwanted strain that it will have on the financial resources of this poor nation!



Finally, Madhesi politicians have always justified the formation of regional parties blaming the pahadi politicians for historically marginalizing them. And, maybe, rightly so. But is not it time they asked themselves: “What have we done to better the lot of our people since we became important players of national politics post-Madhes Andolan in 2007?”

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