KATHMANDU: Janamat Party Chairman and House of Representatives member Chandrakant (CK) Raut is a young leader who transitioned from the Madhes separatist movement into mainstream politics.
Raut, who left a job at NASA in the United States and returned to Nepal 15 years ago, currently leads his party with six seats in the House of Representatives.
Although the Janamat Party supports the KP Sharma Oli-led government, it has not received any ministerial positions in the federal cabinet. However, the party does hold the Chief Minister’s position in the Madhes provincial government.
Efforts were underway to unify the Janamat Party with the Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP), led by Ranjita Shrestha. However, those talks stalled after the arrest of NAUPA patron Resham Chaudhary, based on a forged letter purportedly from the Supreme Court.
Although Chaudhary was released within a few hours, the unification process has remained suspended.
So why did the unification between Janamat and NUP fall through? And given that the Janamat Party is not formally in the federal government, should it be viewed as part of the ruling coalition or the opposition? Khabarhub spoke briefly with MP Raut to get his perspective:
The unification process with NUP was halted after Resham Chaudhary was arrested briefly on the basis of a fake Supreme Court letter. Although the situation has since normalized, talks of unification seem to have fizzled out. Why?
After the unification stalled, we decided to reevaluate the situation. We’re still in the process of reviewing both parties—how to move forward, where the challenges lie, and what the best approach should be. A thorough internal review is underway, and we’ve advised both sides to reflect deeply. We also need to analyze the attack directed at us.
Are you saying the review focuses on Resham Chaudhary’s arrest or the overall unification process?
Both. We need to understand why he was arrested, why the unification event was disrupted, and what implications such incidents may have going forward. Only after assessing the arrest and reviewing its potential political impact can we make an informed decision about restarting the unification process.
There’s a perception that Resham Chaudhary could be arrested again at any time. Is this fear influencing your decisions?
That’s not exactly the issue. However, the government has clearly acted out of political vendetta. Even on the day of his arrest, I stated that this wasn’t a fault of the civil servant (the senior-most official). The real reasons are still unclear, and we have not held the official personally responsible.
So, was the announcement of party unity made too hastily?
Not at all. We had prepared for it in advance and we are still preparing. But preparation alone isn’t enough—legal and political considerations also play a big role. There are forces actively trying to sabotage our unity, and we’re taking all aspects into account before moving ahead.
There is also a possibility that the unity of the two parties will be limited to chaos!
That is not the case, unity will happen. We are confident that this unity will not be stopped from anywhere. We are in dialogue. We are in dialogue with both NUP Patron Reshamji and Chair Ranjita Shrestha, but it may take time.
Has the disagreement between Chaudhary (Party Patron) and Ranjita Shrestha (Party Chair) also affected the unity between the two parties?
Yes! Many things have come out. However, I have not seen any mismatch between them. There may be differences in opinions sometimes. However, it does not seem like there is a disagreement in the party unity.
Both are in dialogue and discussion. I have not been able to comment on their internal affairs. We have hoped that there will be no problem. We have seen both of them standing in favor of unity.
Looking at the relationship of the party led by you with the government, there are comments that it looks like neither the ruling party nor the opposition, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli did not give you much space in the ruling coalition!
We are currently in the ruling party. As long as there is support, we cannot say that we are not in the ruling party. We are running a ‘comfortable government’ in Madhesh Province easily. We have been talking about the Prime Minister not giving us space! He has already realized it.
Now there is talk of leaving the government here, have there been discussions between NUP and Janamat about this?
Since we have not yet united with the Nagarik Unmukti Party, we are not in a position to make a joint decision on participation in the government. But the NUP has not talked about leaving the government recently either.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has abandoned such a stance after speaking in the House. There is no basis for leaving the government now. However, if the basis is found, we can take a decision later. It is not possible now.
You claimed that you are running a ‘comfortable government’ in Madhesh Province, have you been able to run the provincial government without any interference from the UML and Nepali Congress?
After the government is formed, there are attacks from all sides, disputes are created, opponents are agitated, this is a natural process. We have not taken it otherwise.
The provincial government is working well, it is popular among the people. The people have preferred the work we have done compared to the previous government. We have equal respect and encouragement, there is no room for failure.
Recently, I visited various districts. There were programs in the three districts of Lumbini, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi and Kapilvastu. I also came to Sunsari, Bara and Parsa for meetings, and there is widespread enthusiasm among the people.
There is no situation where big parties that create debates outside can disrupt the programs. The government has also been running in the good governance and public interest of Madhes. The Madhes people are satisfied with the current Madhes government.
What about the Janamat Party?
Since it is a party with new hope and trust, the people are very optimistic. Another thing – even in that summer of Madhes, there is a crowd of people joining the party and attending meetings, there is widespread enthusiasm. Former ministers, mayors and MPs are joining the Janmat Party. This is a very positive situation.
You said you visited many districts. What is your opinion of the people towards the current government?
People’s feelings towards the government and various parties are different. People are not very satisfied with the main parties running the government, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML. They have looked at the Janmat Party in a different way.
There are also people who think that the Janmat Party can do the things that the current two major parties have not been able to do if they become decisive. The activities of the Madhesh government and the recent actions taken have also given the same message.
So, the people are not happy with the current government with you involved, are they?
No, the people are not satisfied, but they have not seen us as guilty either. The enthusiasm among the people and the development of the country that should have happened when the big parties came together has not happened. I also urge you to pay attention to this.
I have repeatedly said in coalition meetings that this government should be able to overcome the disappointment seen among the people, and a serious review should be carried out.
How do you feel about the government’s working style?
We are also not very satisfied with the work being done by the government, but we are forced to support it. Because the country’s development could not take a leap while it was in the game of forming, toppling, and forming another government.
We supported this government only because the people’s agenda dies when they pursue power interests, and we said that this government should move forward. However, there is no basis for satisfaction with the work that a government with close to two-thirds of the votes should do.
What, in your view, has the government failed at? Based on its policies, programs, and other activities, where do you see shortcomings?
The government should prioritize public concerns and ensure good governance. For instance, the police administration should be placed under the Chief District Officer.
This would help address local peace, security, and public interest issues more efficiently, allowing for swift action and better service delivery.
The government also needs to show genuine commitment to solving the problems of the poor, disadvantaged, and marginalized communities. These issues should not merely serve as tools for securing votes.
Even today, Madhes remains behind in every aspect, and no comprehensive plans have been introduced to uplift the region.
Due to prolonged neglect and limited budget allocations, Madhes has essentially become an underdeveloped province. Poverty levels are high, and there are persistent issues related to land and water.
The state should have introduced a special development package for Madhes, but it has consistently been sidelined in national budgets. This neglect continues in the annual policy and programs as well.
People in Madhes are demanding special attention and concrete efforts. Their demands must be addressed—especially in the areas of education, health, employment, and equality.
While some progress has been made, the policies and programs lack the potential to inspire the people of Madhes or the broader population. Much more could and should have been done.
There has been a lot of speculation about the lifespan of the current government. As a member of the ruling side, do you think it will last until 2084 BS (2027)?
From my perspective, yes, the current government is likely to last until 2084. Given that it was formed after several rounds of political experimentation, there is now no room for failure. As long as this government exists, we will continue our support—without expecting personal benefit or gain.
There were talks about forming a united front of Madhes-centric parties. What is the current status of that initiative?
After the last meeting, some progress has been made toward establishing a secretariat for the front. Without a functioning secretariat, there was no one to take initiative, and the front currently has no chairperson.
We hope that once the secretariat is established, things will move forward more systematically.
What is the specific objective of this Madhes-centric front?
The primary objective is to protect the achievements of past movements—particularly the republican and Madhes movements. This front aims to uphold the current constitution, strengthen unity by ensuring rights, and push for constitutional amendments that reflect the sentiments of all people. Strengthening provincial governance is also a key focus.
On a different note, you are known to follow Osho’s path of yoga and meditation. What are you practicing these days?
I continue to practice sadhana regularly. Through this, I’ve had the opportunity to correct and refine myself from within. While working, both the mind and the soul experience fatigue. That’s when the soul needs rest—and for me, that rest comes through meditation. I take time out specifically to meditate and rejuvenate.
There were reports of personal and family tensions. Has that situation been resolved?
In our country, anyone who attains a position of influence becomes a target for various attacks. I have viewed the recent family tension in a similar light—as an orchestrated attack. Everything was fine, then suddenly, things shifted. It was a conspiracy, no doubt.
So, are you free from all stress now?
Honestly, I don’t think I was ever under stress. We know what’s true and what’s false. I knew from the beginning that the accusations were baseless, which is why I didn’t respond to them.
My spouse and I have resolved the issue as husband and wife. When misunderstandings arise with the person you love most, and when they become public, it is painful. But we have dealt with it privately and moved on.
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