The Janamat Party and the Nagarik Unmukti Party, the forces that emerged in the country’s plains from the 2022 general elections, are in the final stage of unification.

Leaders of the two regional parties confirmed their preparations for the merger with the aim of becoming a bigger force to push ethnic identity-based politics mainly in southern Nepal and a decisive entity in Parliament from the next general elections. The Janamat Party is based in the Madhesh Province while some western Tarai districts are strongholds of the Unmukti Party.

Resham Lal Chaudhary, the founding chair of the Unmukti Party, said that the merger process is set to begin and discussions regarding the new party’s political documents, name, and election symbol will soon be finalised.

“The political document for the party merger is ready, and we are preparing for the unity soon,” Chaudhary said. “The idea behind this unity is to bring together like-minded forces to lead the region and advance the identity issues of the Tarai-Madhesh.”

Janamat Party chair CK Raut also confirmed that internal preparations for the merger are underway. “We are working to conclude the unity process as quickly as possible,” Raut said. “The main basis of our unity is the progressive change along with the issue of identity.”

Unmukti’s central committee member, Ganesh Chaudhary, noted that discussions are also underway at the local level regarding the merger.

According to Chandan Singh, general secretary of the Janamat Party, the unity is aimed at becoming a ‘decisive’ force for ethnic identity-based politics. “After the unity of the two identity-based and progressive forces, the new force will emerge stronger to push forward our issues in national politics,” he said.

The Janamat and Unmukti have six and four seats in the House of Representatives, respectively.