Madhes-centric parties up election tempo in earnest

KATHMANDU, JUL 29 -
In an effort to give momentum to the Constituent Assembly election s scheduled for November 19, the Madhes-centric parties have launched separate campaigns. The parties have formed committees to draft manifestos and cut through election logistics.

The Sadbhawana Party (SP) is scheduled to hold election campaigns in several districts between August 9 and 21. During the campaign the party will hold ‘awakening’ programmes whereby they will disseminate pamphlets and other things.

According to SP General Secretary Manish Suman, a survey is being planned to find out the party’s standing along with the understanding of ethnic and caste composition in different constituencies.

The SP has formed a two-member committee headed by its co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna to prepare an election manifesto. The other member includes party spokesperson Santosh Meheta. The party has tasked Narsingh Chaudary and Yogendra Yadav to look into the logistics issue concerning the election s.

Even the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) has formed a 21-member manifesto drafting committee headed by its Vice-chairman Hridayesh Tripathy. According to TMLP Joint-general Secretary Jitendra Sonar, the committee has been divided into groups to deal with the issues of agriculture, labour, and tourism, among others.

Sonar informed that the party has formed a 13-member Parliamentary Board to be led by its Chairman Mahanta Thakur. “The board will finalise the candidates for the upcoming polls,” said Sonar. The party is also due to hold campaigns in 27 districts that have party chapters.

But some Madhes-centric parties are yet to chalk out their strategies. The Bijaya Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik (MJF-L) is yet to set up formal committees for writing manifestos and other election related activities.

“We are informally engaging in these activities. But any formal shape will take place after a party meeting in Biratnagar,” said MJF-L Senior Vice-chairman Rameshwor Raya Yadav. He, however, added that the date of the meeting was yet to be finalised.

Similarly, the Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal, which has been opposing the polls under the incumbent government, will make its position clear after its Central Committee meeting scheduled for August 4 and 5.

“The meeting will decide whether to take part in the election s. If yes, then the meeting will chalk out poll plans,” said MJF-N leader Arjun Thapa. Federalism is likely to top the election agenda for Madhes-centric parties. Leaders maintain that this agenda will shape their election campaigns.

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