A meeting of the four parties held at Singha Durbar on Friday made the decision to revive United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) and vowed to stand united on issues related to government formation and promulgation of the new constitution. The latest move helps Madhesi-alliance to stand itself as the fourth largest political force with a total of 82 seats in parliament. [break]
Earlier, three Madhesi parties -- MPRF-D (28), TMDP (20) and SP (9) -- were with the ruling coalition while MPRF (25) was in the opposition.
Madhesi leaders said the decision would help the parties to play decisive role in the formation of new government and power sharing, thereby furthering the agenda of Madhes in the new constitution. “The latest decision has made our alliance much stronger than in the past,” said TMDP Joint General Secretary Jitendra Sonar.
Sonar said the UDMF had virtually become non-existent after the MPRF (D) split from MPRF in the course of the formation of Nepal-led government. “The bitterness that existed between the MPRF-D and MPRF has come to an end with the fresh commitment,” he said.
He said he is confident that the unity among the four Madhesi parties will remain intact in the days ahead.
According to Sonar, the four parties decided that they will field a common prime ministerial candidate should the big three parties fail to name one for the election scheduled for July 21. Sources said the parties are preparing to field candidacy of TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur, who is senior most Madhesi leader, as the new prime minister.
TMDP leaders Thakur, Hridayesh Tripathi, Sonar, Mahendra Yadav, MPRF leaders Upendra Yadav, Jaya Prakash Gupta, MPRF (D) leaders Sharat Singh Bhandari, Rameshwar Raya Yadav, Jitendra Dev and SP leaders Rajendra Mahato and Anil Jha, among others, attended the meeting.
MPRF (D) Chairman Bijaya Gachchhadar chose to skip the meeting citing health reason.
Madhesi parties oppose SRC
The meeting of four Madhesi parties took strong exception to the decision of big three to form State Restructuring Commission saying that it is irrelevant to form such a commission at this juncture.
According to Sonar, the parties objected to the decision as it attempts to overlook the decision taken from Constituent Assembly (CA) committee. “The parties are unanimous that the new constitution must be promulgated from the CA itself,” he said. “No other options are acceptable.”
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