Notably, SP had intensified negotiation with Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi People´s Right Forum-Nepal (MPRF-N), Mahanth Thakur-led Tarai Madhesh Democratic Party (TMDP), Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar-led MPRF-D, Ashok Rai-led Federal Socialist Party (FSP) and other Madheshi parties for seat adjustment for the upcoming election. [break]
“We held series of talks with the political parties sharing common political agendas, but the negotiations haven´t yielded positive results so far,” said Mahato.
Speaking to media persons at Kathmandu on Saturday, Mahato said, “Even if Madhesi parties contest the forthcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) polls separately, it would not seriously affect the results. Major parties will win Tarai constituencies."
“The major parties prevailed in 88 per cent constituencies in Tarai, while Madhesi parties got 12 per cent seats in the last CA election. But this time around things stand differently. Madhesi people are aware about cunning and opportunist political parties,” insisted Mahato. He claimed that none of the Madhesi voters would vote for non-Madhesi parties.
“No one should wonder if our party secures maximum votes under Proportional Representative (PR) electoral system,” he said, adding, “Our party would emerge as the biggest party in Madhesh.” Mahato added that their party would not file candidacies for all 240 constituencies. “We are, however, planning to file candidacies in all 55 hill districts, but not in every hill constituencies.”
Asserting that their party is working for the cause of Muslim community and other marginalized communities, SP General Secretary Manish Suman told Republica that more than 10 candidates from Muslim community would represent their party under first past the post (FPTP) system. “To make the party inclusive, we are planning to propose candidacies from Muslim, Dalit, Women, Madhesi, hill communities, among others, under PR,” said Suman.
He further said that their party would announce the names of candidates on Monday. “We will reach a consensus about the names of candidates through Central Working Implementation Committee (CWIC) meeting scheduled for Monday,” he added.
Former state minister for information and communication Surita Sah joined the party amid the function. Within a year, she has changed at least three political parties. In Babu Ram Bhattarai-led government she was state minister representing MPRF-R. Then she joined TMDP and now she has joined SP.
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