TMLP keen to forge Madhes alliance

KATHMANDU, DEC 24 - Saying that their failure to put up an united front was one of the reasons for party's poor performance in the CA election, leaders of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party ( TMLP ) have stressed the need for an alliance with other Madhesi parties.

Addressing the ongoing meeting of the Central Work Procedure Committee of the party, TMLP leaders have said they were for a tie-up with the original members of the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha--Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal and Sadbhawana Party-- and did not rule out an alliance with other Madhesi parties.

"The meeting stressed for political unity among the Madhesi parties," said TMLP Vice-chairman Brikesh Chandra Lal. Such a suggestion comes at a time when Madhesi leaders have been calling for an unity. MJF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav has already met with TMLP Chairman Mahanta Thakur and held talks to that effect.

This is not the first time the Madhesi parties, particularly the three forces, have made attempts to forge an alliance. In the run up to the CA election, the parties had held unsuccessful talks, prompting the TMLP to form two dialogue teams to hold on party alliance and unity. The first team was headed by Vice-chairman Hridayesh Tripathy. But MLJ-N chief Yadav had refused to hold talks with the Tripathy-led team and a separate team was formed under TMLP spokesperson Sarvendra Nath Shukla. A MJF-N leader confirmed Yadav's parleys with Thakur and Sadbhawana Chairman Rajendra Mahato and said efforts will be made to forge an alliance, particularly with Thakur.

The TMLP had also held talks with the Sadhbhawana Party before the CA election. But that also did not make headway. Sadhbhawana leaders, however, sounded optimistic. "Our chairman is in talks with Mahantaji and Upendraji. Our target is party unification. If that doesn't happen, we will go for an alliance," said Sadbhawana Co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna.

Meanwhile, the TMLP is all set to submit its list of candidates under the Proportional Representation by Wednesday, the extended deadline given by the Election Commission to parties.

The move to submit the list comes at a time when the UCPN (Maoist), along with whom the TMLP has been demanding investigation into alleged electoral frauds, is still hesitant to submit its list seeking prior assurance of investigation. TMLP leaders maintain that their primary objective is to seek investigation into the malpractices whatever the mechanism is.

"No factor will hinder us from submitting the list on the scheduled date," said Shukla in response to what the party would do given that the Maoist party has been refusing to submit its list. The ongoing meeting of the Central Work procedure Committee of the party is also set to finalise criteria for selecting PR candidates. Among the criteria would be to proritise those who would be fully committed to the parties. The party had secured seven seats under the PR category. It is scheduled to formulate criteria on Tuesday.

Explaining the purpose of the criteria, Shukla maintained that the former CA's experiences proved that lawmakers under the PR category played an important role in splitting the party.

Labels: Highlight, News