“This is a huge loss to UDMF and Madhes as Gupta was the most influential leader in the Madhesi alliance,” said general secretary of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party- Nepal (TMDP-N) Dan Bahadur Chaudhary, who is also a minister for women, children and social welfare.[break]
Talking to Republica, Vice-chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) Rameshwor Raya Yadav said the apex court verdict has left him in a shock.
“It is, however, positive that he (Gupta) appeared before the bench respecting the apex court verdict,” stated Yadav.
However, Vice-chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Brikheshchandra Lal refused to comment on the verdict.
Vice-chairman of Sadbhawana Party (SP) Laxmanlal Karna said the SC verdict would not affect the solidarity among the Madhesi parties.
“The apex court has convicted an individual not the UDMF. So, it will not affect UDMF,” argued Karna.
General Secretary of MPRF-R Atmaram Sah termed the apex court verdict as a reflection of the continuing anti-Madhesi sentiment.
“The apex court´s anti-Madhes sentiment reflects since the verdict on the oath of the vice-president, voters´ registration, integration of Madhesi youths in the national army, citizenship and postal road to Gupta´s case,” said Sah.
Asked how the party would move ahead in absence of Chairman, Sah stated the relations between Gupta and the party would remain intact.
“Now, our Vice-chairman Rajkishor Yadav will take charge as the acting chairman of the party as per the party statute,” said Sah, adding, “Guptaji will remain as the chairman and we will move ahead respecting his contribution to Madhesi politics.
Meanwhile, political analyst Chandra Kishor Jha stated that the SC verdict would have an immediate impact on the Madhesi alliance.
“Gupta is a leader who could step in for the cause of Madhesi people in national politics,” said Jha, adding, “And, there the Madhesi community lacks such a leader. So, his absence will have an immediate impact on UDMF.”
Who is JP Gupta?
Born on 19th April, 1959 at Kanchanpur VDC-7 of Saptari district, Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta is MA in Political Science from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu.
Gupta, who is the chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Republican (MPRF-R), entered politics in 1974. He served as the press advisor to then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in 1991. Gupta, who was studying science in India, returned to Nepal and joined I.com at Morang Campus, Biratnagar at Koirala´s behest.
He was jailed for three years during the 1990 democratic movement.
Gupta was a member of the House of Representatives from Saptari-1 in 1994 and 1999 representing Nepali Congress (NC). Gupta was also a member of the interim legislature-parliament in 2007.
He was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly (CA) from Saptari-2 representing Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) in 2008.
Gupta served as the minister for information and communications, and minister for agriculture from August 22, 2008 to 2009.
Following a dispute with Chairman of MPRF Upendra Yadav, Co-chairman Gupta on May 23 defected along with 13 CA members from MPRF to form MPRF-R.
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