KATHMANDU: Amid speculations that CK Raut’s signing of the 11-point agreement with the government was a mere hoodwink, a national council meeting of the Alliance for Independent Madhes (AIM) not only decided to join the mainstream politics, but also changed the party’s name to ‘Janamat Party’.

A two-day meeting held in Lahan of Siraha from Sunday participated by over 150 representatives decided to change the name of the party while terming the 11-point agreement as a historic and significant achievement of the Madhesi people.

A day after signing the agreement with the government on March 8, Raut flew to Janakpur where he was given a hero’s welcome by his supporters shouting slogans of ‘Free Madesh’. In the agreement, he had agreed to accept Nepal’s territorial integrity.

Earlier on Sunday, to everyone’s surprise, the meeting started by playing the national anthem ‘Sayaun thunga phulka hami…’.

The two-day meeting deliberated on the 11-point agreement signed between the then AIM and the government.

Likewise, the party has also decided to ‘move ahead’ abiding by Nepal’s constitution and its territorial integrity.

The flag of the new party will be a tri-color party flag with red, white and green vertical strips with a red octagon symbol on the white strip. The central working committee headed by Raut will have 35 members, the party said.