The Rastriya Janata Party, Nepal, abbr. RJPN (Nepali: राष्ट्रिय जनता पार्टी, नेपाल, translation: National People's Party, Nepal) was the fourth-largest political party in Nepal after the Nepali Congress, the Nepal Communist Party and the Samajbadi Party, Nepal. It was formed on 21 April 2017 after the merger of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, led by the Mahantha Thakur, Terai Madhes Sadbhawana Party, led by the Mahendra Raya Yadav, Sadbhavana Party, led by the Rajendra Mahato, Nepal Sadbhawana Party, led by the Anil Kumar Jha, Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum (Republican), led by Rajkishor Yadav and Rastriya Madhesh Samajwadi Party, led by Sharat Singh Bhandari. The party was founded with the ideology of democratic system.[1][2][3][4]
Rastriya Janata Party Nepal राष्ट्रिय जनता पार्टी नेपाल | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | RJPN |
| Chairperson | Anil Kumar Jha (Rotation basis) |
| General Secretary | Rajeev Jha Jitendra Prasad Sonal Jangi Lal Ray |
| Presidium members | Mahantha Thakur Mahendra Raya Yadav Sharat Singh Bhandari Raj Kishor Yadav Rajendra Mahato |
| Deputy-chairperson | Laxman Lal Karna Raj Kumar Thapa |
| Founded | 20 April 2017 |
| Dissolved | 22 April 2020 |
| Merger of | TMLP (2007) Sadbhavana RMSP TMSP MJF (R) NSP |
| Merged into | PSP-N |
| Succeeded by | People's Progressive Party Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party Nagrik Unmukti Party Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal |
| Ideology | Regionalism Social democracy Madhesi rights Janajati rights Secularism |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Election symbol | |
 | |
On 22 April 2020, the party merged with Samajbadi Party, Nepal to form Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepal.[5][6]
History
editOn 14 April 2017, six of the seven constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front agreed in principle to merge in a bid to form a strong force representing the Terai region.[7] The party was formed on 21 April, as the Rastriya Janata Party and Mahanta Thakur was announced as its chairperson.[8] The party on 26 April, changed its name to Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) after it clashed with another party bearing the name Rastriya Janata Party, which later merged with Nepal Loktantrik Forum, registered with the Election Commission.[9] The party registered with the Election Commission on 7 July 2017.[10][11]
Elections, 2017–2020
editThe party had initially decided to not participate in the third phase of the local elections but changed their decision later.[citation needed] The election of 1,112 candidates of the party handed it the second highest number of candidates elected in Province No. 2. The party won 25 mayoral posts, including a win in Janakpur.[12]
Ahead of the legislative and provincial elections, the RJPN formed an alliance with the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal.[13] The party won 17 seats in the House of Representatives and finished with the fourth highest vote count in proportional representation.[14] The party won in key areas of their home province, Province No. 2, winning 13 mayoral seats out of 67 municipalities in the province, which is nearly 19%, making it the 3rd largest party at the local level in the province.
The party won 25 seats in the provincial assembly for Province No. 2, 1 seat in Lumbini Province and 2 seats in Sudurpashchim.[15][16] Following the election, RJPN and Federal Socialist Forum announced that they would form a coalition government in Province No. 2, with FSFN getting the post of Chief Minister and RJPN getting the post of Speaker.[17][18]
The party won 2 seats in the National Assembly elections, both candidates were elected unopposed from Province No. 2.[19][20] On 20 April 2018, disgruntled leaders led by Ashok Kumar Yadav broke away from the party and formed Rastriya Janata Party (Democratic).[21]
The party merged with Samajbadi Party, Nepal on 22 April 2020.[5][6]
Breakaway factions
editList of breakaway parties
edit| Party | Leader | Region | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loktantrik Samajwadi Party | Mahantha Thakur | Madhesh and Lumbini province | Active |
| Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party | Brikhesh Chandra Lal | Madhesh provine | Active |
| Janata Paragatisheel Party | Hridayesh Tripathi | Lumbini province | Active |
| Nagrik Unmukti Party | Resham Lal Chaudhary | Tharuhath region | Active |
Electoral performance
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | |||||
| 2017 | Mahantha Thakur | 472,254 | 4.95 | 17 / 275
|
4th | CPN (UML)-CPN (Maoist Centre) |
Presence in various provinces
edit| Province | Year of election | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | |||||
| Madhesh Province | 2017 | 318,524 | 20.72 | 25 / 107
|
2nd | FSFN–RJPN |
| Lumbini Province | 54,110 | 3.36 | 1 / 87
|
5th | CPN (UML)–CPN (MC) | |
| Sudurpashchim | 36,902 | 4.66 | 2 / 53
|
4th | CPN (UML)–CPN (MC) | |
Leadership
editPresidium
editThe Rastriya Janata Party Nepal was led by a six member presidium who would share the chairmanship of the party on a rotational basis.[22]
- Mahantha Thakur
- Mahendra Raya Yadav
- Rajendra Mahato
- Anil Kumar Jha
- Raj Kishor Yadav
- Sharat Singh Bhandari
General Secretary
edit- Rajeev Jha[23]
- Jitendra Prasad Sonal
- Jangi Lal Raya
- Jitendra Singh Yadav
- Keshav Kumar Jha
- Manish Kumar Suman
Senior leader
editVice president
editReferences
edit- ^ Post Report (2014-12-01). "Six Madhes-based parties unite to form Rastriya Janata Party (Update)". Ekantipur. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- ^ "Five Madhesi parties unify to form Rastriya Janata Party". THT Online. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- ^ "Glimpses of Rastriya Janata Party at birth". Nagarik News. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
- ^ "Six Madhes-based parties under one umbrella".
- ^ a b "Two key Madhesi parties in Nepal merge to form Janata Samajwadi Party". TheWeek English. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ a b "Madhesi parties in Nepal merge to form Janata Samajwadi Party". The Pioneer English. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- ^ "UDMF parties agree in principle to merge". Nagarik News. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Six UDMF constituents merge". THT Online. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Newly formed RJP to change party name to avoid clash". Ekantipur. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "RJP-N registered at EC today". Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- ^ "RJPN finally files registration application at Election Commission – OnlineKhabar". Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "RJPN's Raj Kishor Sah elected mayor of Janakpur Sub-Metro". Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "FSFN, RJPN sign poll alliance deal in Province 2". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "PR vote counting concludes". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "EC allots proportional seats of provincial vote". Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "UML, NC and Maoists win 75, 72 and 35 provincial assembly PR seats". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "FSF-N and RJP-N agree to form coalition government in Province 2". The Himalayan Times. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "Province 2: Chief Minister to FSFN, Speaker to RJPN". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Nepal's National Assembly gets full shape - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Two dozen NA members elected unopposed". The Himalayan Times. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Disgruntled RJPN leaders form new party". Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ^ Republica. "Mahato named RJPN presidium coordinator". My Republica. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
- ^ "Unity between RJP-Nepal and Socialist Party demand of Madhesh : Rajeev Jha". madheshvani.com. Retrieved 2020-12-24.