Prior to joining RPP-N, he had contested the 2008 CA elections as a candidate of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Rana, who is currently the central vice chairman of RPP-N, was elected mayor of Nepalgunj Municipality in 1997 as a CPN-UML candidate. [break]
“I don´t think that a leader should stick to a party that does not have a clear agenda,” Rana said. “People care only about the integrity of the candidate and not judge him on the basis of the number of parties s/he has switched,” he opined.
Rana is not the only candidate who has switched parties. After losing the parliamentary election as a Nepali Congress (NC) candidate from the district in 1999, Pashupati Dayal Mishra left the party to join RPP. He then contested the 2008 CA election as RPP candidate but lost. After announcement of the fresh date for CA election, Mishra joined Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP). He is the party´s candidate for consistency 2 of the district.
“I have been raising voice against the suppression of Madhesi community so far. As far as switching parties is concerned, I did what the situation demanded,” said Mishra.
Sarbadev Ojha, who won the 2008 CA election as Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Nepal (MPRF-N) candidate, has switched to Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D). Ojha filed his candidacy from the constituency 3 as an independent candidate after his party did not get recognition from Election Commission.
“Instead of addressing the concerns of the Madhesi people, the Madhesi leaders have stooped low for immediate benefits. But, I have not forgotten the Madhes agenda though I have switched parties,” said Ojha.
Sandhya Dev, who had won the 2008 CA election as MPRF-N candidate, joined its breakaway faction MPRF (Republic). She is now a candidate of the Madhes Samajwadi Party for constituency 3 of the district.
Civil society leaders say leaders switch parties only for personal gains.
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