The Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal has made a scathing criticism of the CPN (Maoist Centre), rather than the CPN-UML which its leaders and cadres have been flaying for the party’s “anti-Madhes” stance, in the newly united force’s election manifesto.

In the document publicised on Thursday, the RJP-Nepal has accused the Maoist Centre of killing 52 Madhesi activists including Ramesh Mahato during the Madhes Andolan.

The Madhes-based party was perceived to have a better relationship with the Maoist Centre considering the latter’s strong backing of the concerns of Madhes but the party’s election manifesto surprises everyone.

The RJP has also held the former rebel force responsible for widespread impunity, corruption, insecurity and the state of chaos and conflict in the country.

“Since the Maoist Centre believes in an authoritarian rule, the party’s main character is anti-federalism,” the party manifesto states.

However, presidium member Rajendra Mahato said the party does not identify any party as its major adversary. Some leaders claimed that the RJP-Nepal was furious with the Maoists after they “stole away” a large number of RJP cadres lately.

Besides, RJP leaders were agitated when the Maoist Centre’s election manifesto negatively portrayed the RJP-Nepal as a “pro-Indian” force. One of the leaders who drafted the document said the Maoist Centre’s allegation that the RJP-N was “unpatriotic” had irked the Madhesi leaders. He, however, clarified that the party’s target should have been the UML.

Some Madhes experts read the developments as the two forces’ bid to woo Madhesi voters. RJP-N leader Mahato maintains that the party decided to join the polls accepting the people’s verdict. He urged the Madhesi people to vote for the RJP-N and “discard those who stood against the rights for the Madhesi people and amendment to the constitution”.

The party also charges three major parties with transforming the agenda of federalism and inclusiveness into “exclusion” and “centralisation” to serve their interests.

On other Madhes-based parties including the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal and the Nepal Loktantrik Forum, the RJP says they were engaged in self-centred activities in ways to “tarnish the image of Madhes”.

The manifesto advocates conservation of forests and the Chure region and urges the Chure Tarai Madhes Conservation and Development authority to check degradation of rivers caused by haphazard mining of sand and gravel.

Parties in the eyes of RJP-Nepal

• Forming Flood Victims Reconstruction Authority

• Making report of High-Level Probe Commission led by Girish Chandra Lal public

• Making the Nepal Army and police forces inclusive with group entry of Madhesi youths

• Libraries, birthing centres, internet and Wi-Fi at all ward offices

• Rs25,000 incentive for couples who reject dowry