Nearly all the Madhes-based parties are gearing up to hold their general conventions within the next few months in an effort to reinvigorate their party structures weakened by repeated splits.

While the Bijay Gachhadar-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) has already announced the date for the general convention, other parties including Sadbhawana Party and Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party are making final preparations for the occasion.

This would be the first general convention for the Madhes-based parties except Sadbhawana. The majority of the present parties came into being after the first Madhes movement in 2007. The Madhes-based parties have long been criticised for giving more importance to their leaders than party base and structure—the tendency experts say has weakened the parties’ base.

The MJF (Loktantrik) is scheduled to hold its first general convention in Biratnagar from April 2. The party held a meeting of its central committee in Kathmandu last week.

“The general convention will enliven the party structure and strengthen its

base,” said Ram Janam Chaudhary, general secretary of the MJF (L).

Despite its presence in more than 50 districts, the party considers Madhes as its primary vote bank.  

The Sadbhawana Party, which recently concluded the general convention of party’s sister wings, is preparing for the convention next month. After being humbled in the second Constituent Assembly election, Sadbhawana Chairman Rajendra Mahato and other top leaders are putting in an extra effort to expand the party base across the Tarai.

The Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party has also started work to restructure its base, with the party leadership going out on a visit across the plains recently to reorganise the village committees.

“We plan to hold the general convention within the next few months,” said TMLP Vice-chair Hridayesh Tripathi.

Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal—the newest regional party that was formed after the unification of MJF-Nepal, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum and Nepal Khas Party—is also building its organisation in the region. It is set to be the first regional party to have branches in all the 75 districts.