KATHMANDU: The once-cohesive alliance within the government is facing a significant strain, particularly between the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) and the Janamat Party in the Madhes Province.
The Janamat Party, on Tuesday, decided to withdraw from the Madhes Province government, citing irreconcilable differences and a mutual refusal to acknowledge each other’s existence.
The discord reached a boiling point when Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav, without informing Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut, invited JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav as the chief guest for the opening ceremony of Madhes Agricultural University.
Despite the constitutional provision designating the Chief Minister as the Chancellor and the Education Minister as the Vice-Chancellor in provincial universities, allegations surfaced that Yadav neglected to inform Education and Culture Minister Mahesh Prasad Yadav, who holds the position of Vice-Chancellor.
This sparked further resentment among Janmaat Party leaders.
In response, Janamat Party took decisive action on Tuesday by recalling Education Minister Yadav and Labor and Transport Minister Chandan Singh, both representing the party in the Madhes government.
The ministers, in written letters, withdrew their support from the government.
Speaking to Khabarhub, Janamat Chairman CK Raut expressed deep dissatisfaction, claiming that his party and ministers faced severe repression from JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav and Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav.
Raut asserted that the relentless pressure was intolerable, leading to the party’s decision to sever ties with the government.
The situation remains tense in Madhes as the political rift widens, prompting concerns about the stability of the province.
Political analysts are weighing in on the ongoing conflict between Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut and JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav, characterizing it as a power struggle for political dominance in the Madhes Province.
The recent fallout between the JSP and the Janamat in the Madhes Province has brought to light a longstanding conflict between their leaders Yadav and Raut, dating back to 2011.
Raut, upon returning to Nepal from the United States, advocated for Madhes to be established as a separate country, initiating the rivalry with Yadav.
Raut’s vision of dividing Madhes clashed with Yadav’s stance in favor of nationalism, sparking tensions that have persisted over the years.
The discord intensified during the 2079 BS elections when both leaders contested from the same constituency in Saptari-2, violating a supposed agreement not to compete against each other.
Despite Raut’s victory with over 18 thousand votes, the breach of trust further strained the relationship between the two leaders.
The conflict deepened as Yadav and Raut, once partners in the government, found themselves at odds.
Even during the election of the Vice President on March 17, 2023, where the alliance was expected to stand against the CPN-UML, discord prevailed.
The public’s support for JSP candidate Ramsahay Prasad Yadav wavered, leading to the selection of a different candidate, Mamata Jha.
Despite the public’s choice, Ramsahay Prasad Yadav secured victory, showcasing the internal disagreements within the party.
Chairman Yadav, responding to the recent rift, accused Janamat Party of disobedience and arrogance, claiming they failed to exhibit the expected behavior of a power partner.
In contrast, Chairman Raut emphasized that his party would support the government’s positive initiatives but vehemently oppose corruption and crime.
As Madhes witnesses this political turmoil, the unresolved conflict between Yadav and Raut continues to cast a shadow over the region’s political landscape, raising concerns about the stability of the government and the impact on the people they serve.
By-Election 2080: A continuation of the JSP-Janamat clash
In a consequential by-election held on April 23, 2023, in Bara’s Constituency-2, which had become vacant after Ram Prasas Sahay Yadav assumed the position of Vice President, the longstanding conflict between JSP and Janamat took center stage once again.
Allegations surfaced from JSP leaders, accusing Raut of orchestrating activism to thwart the alliance’s candidate, Upendra Yadav.
JSP’s concern about a potential decrease in party size, particularly after Janamat Party’s success in recent elections, has added complexity to the political landscape of Madhes.
Despite the heated competition, Upendra Yadav emerged victorious, securing 28,415 votes, while Janamat Party candidate Shiva Chandra Kushwaha, a former Maoist, garnered 23,334 votes.
Yadav triumphed with a margin of 5,081 votes, with support coming from Congress-Maoist and Unified Socialist Party.
The JSP-Janamat rivalry extended to the National Assembly election, influencing not only the decisions within the Madhesh province coalition but also prompting public opinion to nominate candidates for the National Assembly.
These developments highlight that the conflict between JSP and Janamat goes beyond the recent discord over the university’s foundation stone.
The clash has become a recurring theme in various political arenas, indicating a deep-rooted rivalry that continues to shape the political landscape in the Madhes Province.
As the tension persists, the implications of this ongoing feud on governance and public sentiment remain a subject of concern.
Struggle for political dominance in Madhes: Analysts
Political analysts are weighing in on the ongoing conflict between Janamat Party Chairman CK Raut and JSP Chairman Upendra Yadav, characterizing it as a power struggle for political dominance in the Madhes Province.
Tula Narayan Sah, a political analyst, asserted that the discord is essentially a ‘fight for political prestige’ between the two parties.
As the power struggle unfolds, the political landscape in Madhes Province remains in flux, raising questions about its implications for governance and the regional political balance.
According to Sah, the issue surfaced after JSP assumed power in Madhes, leading to restrictions on the Janamat Party Minister, ultimately prompting their departure from the government.
He noted a shift in public sentiment turning against JSP.
Analyst Shah drew parallels between the JSP-Janamat conflict and the competitive dynamics observed on the national stage between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.
He emphasized the typical political maneuvering where parties aim to obstruct each other’s progress.
In this context, the rise of Raut seems to have unsettled Upendra Yadav, contributing to the intensification of the rivalry.
JSP’s concern about a potential decrease in party size, particularly after Janamat Party’s success in recent elections, has added complexity to the political landscape of Madhes.
Analyst Sah highlighted that with the contraction of the old Madhesi party, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, JSP anticipates a reduction in its own party size due to the influence of public opinion.
Drawing a national analogy, Sah likened the JSP vs. Janamat dynamics to the longstanding competition between Congress and UML in national politics.
Despite public opinion exiting the Madhes government, Sah believes it won’t significantly impact the provincial government’s majority.
Sah concluded by underscoring the distinction between the equations in Kathmandu and those within the province, emphasizing the varying dynamics at play on both the national and international fronts.
As the power struggle unfolds, the political landscape in Madhes Province remains in flux, raising questions about its implications for governance and the regional political balance.
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