Kathmandu, March 16: Following a significant defeat in Nepal’s recent parliamentary elections, CK Raut, the leader of the Madhesh-centric Janamat Party, has announced his retirement from parliamentary politics.
This election marked a challenging time for regional parties focused on the Madhesh identity in the southern Terai region. Under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, these parties failed to secure any seats. Additionally, they did not achieve the necessary three percent of votes in the proportional representation system, resulting in no representation in the House of Representatives.
In Nepal’s 275-member House, 165 members are elected through the FPTP system, while 110 are chosen via proportional representation.
In an interview with local Prime Television, Raut stated that he ran for election against his personal wishes and confirmed he would not contest future parliamentary elections. However, he clarified that he would continue to lead the Janamat Party as long as the party requires his leadership.
Raut had transitioned to parliamentary politics in 2022 after abandoning separatist activities. However, in the March 5 elections, he was defeated by Ramji Yadav, the candidate from the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), finishing in third place in the Saptaari-2 constituency.
In the 2022 elections, the Janamat Party had won six seats, achieving national party status. This time, however, regional Madhesi parties faced significant losses, marking the first instance since 1991 that these parties will have no representation in the lower house of Nepal’s parliament.
Of the 32 FPTP seats in the Madhesh province, the RSP won 30 seats, while the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) secured one seat each.
During the campaign, Balen Shah identified himself as a “son of Madhesh” while delivering a speech in Maithili, urging voters to support the RSP to elect Nepal’s first Madhesi Prime Minister. This strategy proved effective, leading to a significant victory for the RSP in the Madhesh region.
Madhesi parties emerged in Nepal’s political landscape following the Madhesh movement in 2007 and had a strong presence in the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections. However, their influence has gradually diminished due to internal disputes and allegations of power politics in subsequent elections.
Other prominent Madhesi leaders also faced defeats in this election. Upendra Yadav from the Janata Samajwadi Party Nepal lost in Saptaari-3, while Prabhu Sah from the Aam Janata Party and Rajendra Mahato from the Rashtriya Mukti Party were also unsuccessful in their respective constituencies.
Despite the electoral setbacks, Madhesi parties assert that the issues concerning Madhesh are far from over, and they are determined to make a strong comeback in the future.
–
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment