KATHMANDU, Feb 12: Dr. Chandra Kant (CK) Raut-led Janamat Party (JP) and Ranjeeta Shrestha Chaudhary-led Nagrik Unmukti Party (NUP) have confirmed the unification of the two parties.
Currently, the chairman of the JP Dr Raut and Patron of NUP Resham Chaudhary are working to prepare a 'strong' basis for unity through a series of dialogues.
The leaders said that the party unification has been confirmed and only the final dialogue is left. NUP Patron Chaudhary said that the final dialogue will be held after the return of NUP Chairperson Ranjeeta Shrestha who is currently abroad.
“The foundation for unity is almost ready. The unification is not that difficult as we have similar ideologies. Both of us (Raut and Chaudhary) are leaders who have risen from movement on the streets. We are leaders who have been jailed for the sake of the people.” Chaudhary told Republica. “After the chairperson (Ranjita Shrestha) returns to Nepal, we will hold the final dialogue.”
Efforts to unite the two parties started after the last parliamentary elections. However, not much was revealed about it. Janamat Party Spokesperson Sharad Singh Yadav confirmed the political development.
“We have already moved ahead with unity and the basis for this has been prepared,” he said, “An agreement has been reached at the highest level and more dialogues are being held.”
Yadav added that Janamat Party has concluded that they should stand up against the discrimination of the state by building power.
“There is discrimination against Tharus as well as Madheshis,” he told Republica, “We had reached a functional unification in the past and now we are now working together for the rights and welfare of the people.”
Who will lead the unified party?
Leaders from both sides have said the unified party’s top leadership is yet to be finalized. However, they claim that there is no problem with that issue.
Chaudhary claimed that although a consensus on what will be the name of the party, what will be the organizational form, who will lead and how to move forward ideologically, have not been finalized, there is no problem with the issues.
“It is not a big deal for us. First, we have similarities in ideological matters. . When I talk to Dr Raut, he insists that I should take the leadership role and I have requested him to be the leader. There is no problem with that,” Chaudhary said. “Our main interest is public service, and to stand up for the oppressed.”
Janamat Party spokesperson Yadav echoed Chaudhary's views on the party unification.
“The primary priority of both parties is public service,” he said, “Everything else is a secondary issue.”
The sixth largest party in parliament
The unified party will become the sixth largest party in the Parliament (House of Representatives) after the unification. Of the 13 parties in parliament, Janamat Party is the eighth largest and the NUP is the eleventh largest. If these two parties unite, they will become the sixth largest party.
At present, Nepali Congress(89), CPN-UML (78), CPN-Maoist Center(32), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (14), Unified Socialist Party (10), Janata Samajwadi Party (7), Janamat Party (6), Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal (5), Loktantrik Samajwadi Party (4), NUP (4), Rastriya Janamorcha (1) and Nepal Workers Peasants Party (1) are in the parliament.
When the two parties merge, they will command 10 seats in the house. Leaders argue that the unified party will have a pronounced drag on parliamentary mathematics.