Janamat Party considers quitting government

KATHMANDU: Janamat Party is contemplating quitting the government.

A leader of the party said there is no point in staying in the coalition as the party’s relationship with Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has deteriorated so much that it is not possible to work together any longer.

Janamat Party leaders say Prime Minister Dahal was not giving the party due respect in the coalition. So much so that they say Dahal has stopped inviting leaders of Janamat Party to the coalition meetings.

Anitadevi Sah is representing Janamat Party in the coalition government. She is the Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development.

BP Sah, secretary of Janamat Party, said that the Prime Minister has treated his party unequally within the coalition and that it no longer in a position to stay in the government. “The Prime Minister is showing indifference to our party. Given his conduct, it seems he wants us out of the coalition,” Sah said. “We haven’t said anything to the Prime Minister though.”

Maoist Center leaders, however, accuse Janamat Party of perpetrating parallel activities within the coalition. They say that Janamat Party is not extending cooperation to the ruling coalition in the National Assembly election.

While coalition partners have named common candidates in the National Assembly election, Janamat Party has fielded its candidates in Madhesh Province.

The party also fielded its candidates in the election for Vice President. Ramsahaya Prasad Yadav of Janata Samajbadi Party was the common candidate of the ruling coalition in the election for Vice President. Janamat Party fielded Mamata Jha in the election for the Vice President.

Maoist Center leaders accuse Minister Sah and Janamat Party Chairman Chandra Kanta Raut of working against the government. “They tried to protest in the restricted areas declared by the government and also participated in a hunger strike against the government,” a Maoist Center office-bearer said. “They are spreading rumors against the government.”

The ruling coalition also feels that Janamat Party is working against the government in Madhesh Province.

Janamat Party is also in the coalition government in the Madhesh Province.

Earlier, Janamat Party quit the government, stating that it wasn’t given the ministry of its choice. Abdul Khan, who was serving as the Minister of Water Supplies, stepped down due to a disagreement over the allocation of ministerial portfolios. The party later joined the government after it was given the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development.

Janamat Party has six seats in the federal parliament.