Republica´s Thira L Bhusal and Bikash KC talked to Yadav on the reasons behind breaking up the mother party and TMDP-N´s future course.
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Why did you decide to defect from TMDP?
We had no differences with the party establishment regarding issues of Madhes. However, differences surfaced in the party´s organizational structure. I had a different voice in the party as I wanted the party statute to be democratic. Next, I raised the issue of joint leadership and stressed that the party´s decision should be transparent and representation should be inclusive. But my pleas fell on deaf ears.
You mean the dispute over joint leadership is the primary reason behind TMDP split?
Joint leadership and election process. The crux of the problem behind splitting of Madhes-based parties is presidential system. While we have already ended centralized and autocratic regime from the country, how can the people of Madhes accept such regime inside a party?
Did you split TMDP disagreeing with the autocracy of President Mahantha Thakur?
We drafted a different statute and distributed it among party cadres thinking that they should be free to register their comments. But they [Thakur faction] opted for imposing the statute prepared by the establishment.
You could have pressed the leadership to go for a general convention to pass your statute?
Exactly. We had been demanding the general convention for long but the Thakur faction was not ready. Cadres were in confusion as two statutes were presented before them.
You were also not satisfied with the party´s decision to replace Ram Chandra Kusawaha with Sarbendra Nath Sukla as the education minister? Isn´t that another reason for the split?
Indeed it is. The question is not of replacement but of following a due procedure. The party made a premature decision without taking into consideration the findings of the committee formed to probe corruption charge against Kusawaha. Later, the committee found nothing wrong in Kusawaha´s conduct. How can a party appoint a minister by replacing the existing one without proper consultations inside the party?
Does that mean Kusawaha will join TMDP-N?
Of course, he will. We have had conversations and he is ready to join.
TMDP establishment faction has been alleging that you split the party to secure a better position in the next government and that you have become a pawn of big parties. What is your say?
These comments are baseless. If it was just to secure a seat in the new government, I am already a minister in the present government including my colleague [state minister Dan Bahadur Kurmi]. Moreover, there are nine of us, out of 20 CA members inside the party, who satnd in unity. We could have easily secured seats in the new government.
Does India have any role in splitting TMDP as it is often heard in cases of split of other Madhes-based parties like Madhesi People´s Rights Forum?
It is a false claim. India does not have any role behind TMDP split. We are doing politics in Nepal as per our own conscience. Under what circumstances Upendra Yadav said that before is a different thing. He still takes suggestions from there [India]. Other parties also go to India to seek advice. What is the big deal if Madhes-based parties take suggestions from India?
You had played an instrumental role to convince Thakur to desert Nepali Congress and form TMDP. How did the rift between you and him appear in such a short period of three years? Isn´t it a betrayal on Thakur?
This is not a betrayal. Isn´t it Thakur´s duty to follow party rules as the party president? If democratic figures like him go on arbitrarily appointing the office bearers, how can it be acceptable to us who had fought long against autocratic systems? While he should have followed democratic principles, he himself got trapped in other people´s ploy.
Are you indicating towards other senior leaders including Hridesh Tripathi?
You better ask this question to him [Thakur]. The way he functioned in arbitrary manner only indicates that it was done to fulfill vested interests of his lackeys.
What will be the structure of TMDP-N central committee?
It will be inclusive. It will be free of any discrimination against caste and creed. We will ensure the rights of Madhesi people.
There are reports that other Madhes-based parties are also on the verge of split. Is there a possibility of the leaders from other such parties joining TMDP-N?
I cannot say that for certain now. However, after May 28, there is a possibility of new polarization among all Madhes-based parties. One inclusive and powerful party will be formed in Madhes.
TMDP has so far stood for democratic alliance during government formation. Will TMDP-N follow the suit?
TMDP-N will not deviate from democratic alliance.
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