The Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) on Monday split for the fifth time raising legitimate questions about it and other split-prone Madhesi parties: Why do so many Madhes-based parties came into an existence in the first place and why is fragmentation so rapid in these parties? The speed at which once mighty Madhesi parties have fragmented into pieces calls into question the very argument that Madhesi parties were formed to fight against the domination of the hill-origin politicians and to raise voice against the marginalization of the Madhesis in national political life. In 2009, Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar walked out of the party with over two dozen of lawmakers and registered a new party—MPRF (Democratic). Last year, another major Madhes-based party, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP), too had split into two. If the Madhes-based parties were indeed formed for effectively addressing the grievances of the Madhesis, how do these divisions help? The Madhesi parties have let down the people of Tarai, who had bequeathed their trust on them hoping that they will work for the larger good of the Madhesi people.
That these parties have forgotten the pledge made to their people is just one side of the story. There are questions about the timing of these splits. Gachchhadar and Co. left the MPRF in 2009 just before the formation of Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government while the mother party decided to stay out. Mahendra Prasad Yadav formed a new party after walking out of TMDP just when intense parleys were on for the formation of a new government last year. That in itself is telling. Political observers then saw the move largely as an attempt to grab plum ministries in the new cabinet. The latest split in MPRF just a few days before the term of the constituent assembly is set to expire and when parties are negotiating to chart out a future course of action, including formation of a new government, raises a pertinent question: What is the motive behind the split? Why are there fissures in the Madhes-based parties, as is always the case, when the political climate is fluid? MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav has alleged that the rival faction has split the party at the behest of foreign forces. Is that true? Or is he trying to cover his autocratic ways of dealing in the party as blamed by the splinter group?
Whatever the reasons, one thing is certain. The latest split will make the political environment even more fragile and political landscape more complex. With parties in the parliament now reaching 29, any future political negotiations will have to accommodate differing views and opinions of many players. That is not going to be easy. More importantly, Tarai-based parties have missed out on cashing in on a golden opportunity the people that they represent had placed before them. They have played with the sentiments of the people and when the time comes they will have to face their wrath.
Related story
Politics and Business
