MJF-N mulls poll tie-up with UCPN (Maoist)

KATHMANDU, SEP 02 -
The Upendra Yadav -led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal (MJF-N) is mulling over an election alliance with the UCPN (Maoist). Though the party has said it is open to forming an alliance with any “like minded” party, informed leaders say that the possibility of it joining hands with the Maoist party is high.

MJF-N leaders say they have not shut the doors for negotiations with other Madhes-centric parties, but that they are reluctant to enter into an alliance with constituent members of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM).

“We are not very keen on poll alliances with other Madhesi parties given our history with them,” said an MJF-N leader, requesting anonymity.

Two parties in the SLMM—the Bijaya Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Ganatantrik—had split from the MJF-N.

MJF-N leaders cited similar agendas—inclusion and federalism—as the reason for prioritising an alliance with the UCPN (Maoist). According to them, as the Maoist party is also trying to strengthen its position in the Madhes and is a new party in the region as compared to the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, working with the UCPN (Maoist) will be relatively easy.

“We could go for seat adjustments in various districts in the Madhes,” the MJF-N leader said.

Some districts, according to MJF-N leaders, where they could concede substantial ground to the Maoists include Kailali, Kanchanpur, Chitwan, Dang and Jhapa, where the population of the hill community could be a determining factor.

The move on the part of the MJF-N could be considered as reciprocating the earlier proposal by the Maoists for a poll alliance. In June, the UCPN (M) had approached Yadav’s party, among other Madhes-centric parties, for an election alliance.

The relationship between Yadav and the Maoist party has seen several twists and turns. A clash between supporters of the two parties resulted in a massacre in Gaur in March 2007.

However, after the 2008 Constituent Assembly election, Yadav was part of both the Maoist-led and Maoist-supported governments. MJF-Nepal leaders believe that convincing party supporters, particularly in places such as Gaur and Lahan, on the alliance with the Maoists could be a challenging job.

Analysts say that Yadav’s move is a calculated one. “ Upendra Yadav needs to show that his party is different from the other Madhesi parties. Also, he needs to gain significant ground,” said Madhes affairs watcher Chandrakishore.

Party forms talks team

The MJF-N on Sunday formed a five-member team under senior leader Bharat Bimal Yadav to forge alliances with “like-minded” parties. The party had earlier held unification talks with the Mahanta Thakur-led Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party.

The party also set criteria for selecting candidates for the upcoming election. The requirements include honesty, commitment to the spirit of the Madhes Movement and loyalty towards the party.

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