MPRF, the second largest faction after MPRF (Democratic) in the alliance, boycotted the Sunday voting for prime minister despite the alliance´s decision not to vote for either of the prime ministerial candidates much in the way it had done in previous rounds of voting. [break]
“We are opposed to the front´s decision to continue to stay neutral. We believe the country should no longer be held hostage due to indecision of the parties,” said MPRF Chairman Upendra Yadav, “It should not be understood that we have detached from the alliance.”
However, a senior Madhesi leader representing another Madhesi party in the alliance said MPRF had proposed that the alliance should vote for Maoist prime ministerial candidate Pushpa Kamal Dahal but other parties in the group were opposed to the proposal. Then MPRF, which has 25 votes, took an independent decision to boycott the voting.
“The alliance should allow other parties to take an independent decision,” Yadav told myrepublica.com, accusing other Madhesi parties of trying to use the alliance to serve their interests.
Ram Janam Chaudhary, chief whip of MPRF (D), the largest party in the alliance, said that the alliance decided to remain neutral because Maoists have not met their agendas relating to the peace process and Madhes.
UDMF was first formed in 2008 to jointly launch a Madhes movement. The group split in May 2009 when three parties -- MPRF (D), Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, and Sadbhawana Party -- joined the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government while MPRF remained in the opposition.
MPRF had then joined hands with UCPN-M to form an anti-government alliance. The alliance had existed till the Madhav Kumar Nepal-led government stepped down on June 30.
The UDMF was activated in July and many believe that India prodded the Madhesi parties to join hands. Indian Prime Minister´s special envoy Shyam Saran had visited Nepal in the first week of August reportedly to cement the alliance.
“The alliance has now split unofficially,” said another Madhesi leader in the alliance. “Yadav was not happy to join the alliance from the very beginning.”
But Yadav said his party would be in the alliance for the cause of Madhesi agendas, including “one Madhes one province”.
MRPF was under pressure to vote for Dahal from the third round of voting. Its eleven lawmakers had violated the parties whip in the fourth round of voting for prime minister.
According to Abhishek Pratap Sah, whip of MPRF, the Madhesi parties had made up their mind to vote for Dahal after the fourth round of voting but they changed mind following Saran´s visit.
Yadav said that his party would vote in the next round of voting slated for Tuesday. But Chaudhary said the alliance would continue to remain neutral even in the seventh round of voting.
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