“We have been holding formal and informal talks with various Madhes-based parties and indigenous, Dalit, Muslim organizations and other armed outfits, which are in talks with the government, on the formation of such an alliance,” SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato told Republica.[break]
He stated that the alliance would stand in favor of Constituent Assembly (CA) election, new statute and federalism. “It may also work as an electoral alliance,” added Mahato.
According to SP General Secretary Manish Kumar Suman, they will also hold talks with the parties that have split from SP in the past.
“We will hold talks with Federal Sadbhawana Party-led by Anil Kumar Jha, National Sadbhawana Party-led by Ram Naresh Raya and SP (Anandi Devi) led by Sarita Giri, Devendra Mishra and Khushi Lal Mandal separately,” Suman maintained.
Asked if his party would join the present United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), Mahato said, “I don´t even know if UDMF exists as the alliance has not held even a single meeting for a long time now.”
A meeting of SP central working committee held in the capital on Tuesday had decided to hold talks with like-minded political parties and ethnic groups either to form a single party or to work together for common issues.
The SP decision indicates that there is little possibility of a single alliance of Madhes-based parties to materialize.
Upendra Yadav has already formed Federal Democratic Forum (FDF) that comprises seven parties, including Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (MPRF) and National Madhes Socialist Party-led by Sharat Singh Bhandari.
Similarly, Thakur has taken initiatives to form an electoral alliance of Madhesi parties. Former minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, who has been holding Tarai Madhes National Campaign across Madhesi districts, has been garnering support to Thakur.
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