Seven Madhesh-centric parties form Joint Democratic Front

KATHMANDU: Seven Madhesh-centric political parties have announced the formation of a united front called the Joint Democratic Front.

The alliance was declared during an event held in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The front includes Janmat Party led by CK Raut, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Nepal led by Upendra Yadav, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) Nepal led by Mahantha Thakur, Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) under the patronage of Resham Chaudhary, Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) led by Brishesh Chandra Lal, Janata Pragatisheel Party (JPP) led by Hridayesh Tripathi, and Rashtriya Mukti Party Nepal led by Rajendra Mahato.

The Madhesh-based parties have also made public their 26-point agenda, which, among others, includes demands for constitutional amendments.

Given below are the major highlights of the 26-point agenda made public by the Front on Thursday:

• Protect and strengthen the federal democratic republic, delineate provinces based on Nepali characteristics, identity, and capability, and ensure effective implementation of federalism.
• Clarify jurisdiction between federal and provincial governments, equitably distribute revenue and resources, and empower provinces and local governments for service delivery.
• Enhance the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission for fair resource distribution between the federal and provincial governments
• Implement the Police Adjustment Act, 2019, and expedite the Federal Civil Service Act to complete the adjustment of police and civil servants.
• Amend the constitution to make it inclusive for all communities.
• Implement past agreements (e.g., 22-point, 8-point) between the government and agitating groups.
• Publicize the Lal Commission report immediately.
• Withdraw cases against leaders/workers from various movements (e.g., Madhesh, Tharuhat, Limbuwan) and release political prisoners.
• Ensure rights of indigenous peoples as per ILO Convention 169.
• Make political and constitutional appointments based on merit, capability, and proportional inclusion, not party quotas.
• Establish proportional electoral systems, equal population-based representation in parliament, and bring local governments under the jurisdiction of province governments.
• Prevent desertification of Tarai by curbing illegal excavation and encroachment in the Chure region.
• Replace the monolingual policy with a multilingual one, recognizing all national languages for official use.