Dissatisfaction seems to be brewing in the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal, which was formed in April after the merger of six Madhes-based parties.

Hridayesh Tripathi, one of the prominent leaders in the party, is learnt to have been dissatisfied over existing portfolios in the RJP-Nepal.

Such discontent in RJP-Nepal, which has been exerting pressure on the government to meet its various demands including an amendment to the constitution, could be detrimental to the party, some party insiders say, adding that the leadership at this point of time should focus on building organisation and prepare its statute, which is a must for registering with the Election Commission, rather than squabbling over portfolios.

The government decided to postpone local elections in Province 2 until September 18 after the RJP-Nepal demanded that polls be held after their demands are met.

The government, however, went ahead with the second phase of local elections in Provinces 1, 5 and 7 on June 28, which the RJP-Nepal boycotted.

The RJP-Nepal is expected to join the September polls.

Sources say Tripathi, who was the vice chairman of the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party before the April 21 merger, has claimed that he is senior to other members of the party’s presidium—Anil Jha and Raj Kishore Yadav.

He is demanding that he be placed above Jha and Yadav, a party source said, adding that he has even threatened to quit the party.

If the RJP-Nepal goes to the polls in September without getting its house in order, it may hugely affect the results, sources said.

Tripathi refused to talk to the Post, saying he was not keeping well.

After returning to the Capital, Tripathi is learnt to have held talks with party Chair Mahantha Thakur and warned of quitting the party.

Despite the RJP-Nepal’s official position to boycott June 28 polls, some of its leaders had decided to contest as independent candidates.

Tripathi is also learnt to have expressed his dissatisfaction with the party leadership for its failure to stop leaders from contesting in the elections which the party boycotted.

Rajendra Mahato, a member of the party’s presidium, admitted that there was conflict within the party over portfolios.

“But conflict is part and parcel of a party organisation. Every party goes through conflict. It keeps party alive,” said Mahato, adding that “this will be gradually managed”

After announcing their merger, the leaders of the six Madhes-based parties had reached an understanding that the RJP-Nepal would be led on rotational basis and that office bearers [of each constituent party] would remain intact.

But this was not well thought out it seems, say party insiders, as it has led to a chaos, as constituent parties started increasing the number of office bearers “in a bid to show strength”.

The RJP-Nepal has a jumbo central committee with around 1,000 members. There are five general secretaries, around 40 vice chairpersons in addition to some senior vice-chairpersons and two co-chairpersons.

Tripathi is one of the co-chairpersons.