Janakpur Nepal: The day after resigning from the post of mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah (Balen) flew to Janakpur, the capital of Madhesh Province. Balen, who entered the election fray as the prime ministerial candidate from the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), made waves in Nepali politics with his speech in Janakpur.
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| Source: Amrit/Ratopati |
One of the leaders of the Gen-z movement on Bhadra 23 and 24 is Purushottam Yadav. On Monday, Yadav was the first speaker at the inauguration meeting held by the National Independent Party in Janakpur, the capital of Madhesh.
In his short speech, Yadav first remembered Madhesh. Then he remembered the same movement of Bhadra. Then he said, “We have come here to make senior leader of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party Balen Shah the Prime Minister.”
After that, the rhythm of
everyone’s speech, which was full of eloquence, became like Purushottam’s.
Everyone’s attention was focused on Balen Shah, who resigned from the post of
mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and went to contest in the House of
Representatives.
The last speaker of the
program, Rashtriya Swatantra Party President Ravi Lamichhane, also repeated the
same thing, “I don’t care if the state sends me to jail. Because the country
has now got Balen.”
In his speech, Balen has
linked the cultural splendor of Mithila with economic opportunities in a very
relevant way. Discussing the irony of Nepalis having to go abroad for
'destination weddings' despite being the wedding site of Ram-Janaki, he pointed
out the failure of the local tourism policy. Comparing Janakpur with the tourist
arrivals of Ayodhya, he said that a target of 10 million tourists can be set
annually. He said that it is not just about worshipping temples, but also
managing and beautifying those temples and heritages to make them world-class
tourist destinations.
He has categorically rejected
the anti-federalist accusations leveled against the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Balen himself through this speech. He has argued that the province
should be made stronger by linking federalism with decentralization of
authority. Strongly criticizing the administrative centralization that requires
the Chief Administrative Officer of Janakpur to go to Kathmandu to change, he
has argued that the provincial capital should be made 'powerful' in the real
sense.
His statement that 'Kathmandu
should not be a place to go to demand rights, but only a place to visit' has
sent a message that Kathmandu's monopoly should be broken.
Those who came to participate
in the meeting kept chanting slogans like "Balen, Balen" even while
other leaders were speaking on the stage. Candidacy registration for the House
of Representatives election is being held on Tuesday, Magh 6. Senior leader of
the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Balen is contesting from Jhapa 5.
The RSP held an announcement
meeting in Madhesh the day before the candidacy registration. The RSP was a
new party in the 2079 House of Representatives election.
The party's election campaign
was city-centered. The RSP itself was not clear about the form of governance
of the state at that time. Madhesh, which had sacrificed the most for
federalism after the 2062/63 people's movement and adopted federalism with
love, was not likely to accept parties that were confused about the issue of
federalism.
The same thing proved true in
the case of the RSSP in the previous election. As a result, the RSSP could get
only one lakh votes from Madhesh, which has about 3.4 lakh voters. That is why
the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) must have felt that it needed to work
harder in Madhesh. Another coincidence is that Balen, who was nominated by the
RSP as the Prime Minister, is himself from Madhesh.
It is not just a coincidence
that the program is being held on the occasion of the Martyrdom Day that
Madhesh has been celebrating in memory of Ramesh Mahato, the first martyr of
the Madhesh movement.
Balen's wreath-laying at the
statue of Mahato, who became a martyr during the Madhesh movement that was
launched on issues such as proportional inclusion, federalism with identity,
and others, is also an expression of his commitment to federalism. In his
speech in Maithili, which lasted about 10 minutes, he repeatedly tried to prove
himself a supporter of federalism.
'Many people asked me in
Kathmandu and here in Janakpur, 'What is the National Independent Party's view
on federalism and the province?' I want to say this, the province should be
made stronger,' he said. 'The province's job is not to go to one ward and
connect a 50,000-strong tap. The province's job should be to connect at least
three or four municipalities.
Now, if the mayor of Janakpur has to change the Chief Administrative Officer, he should go to Kathmandu. Why? Isn't Janakpur the capital of the province? If it is the capital, why should we go to Kathmandu? Why shouldn't all the work be done here? That is why the provinces should be strengthened so that we don't have to go to Kathmandu.' As soon as Balen stopped speaking from the stage, the citizens gathered in the square would say: This time, the Balen government.
In the 2064 BS Constituent Assembly election, Madhesh had placed great expectations on the then Maoists and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum. But the Constituent Assembly could not draft a constitution, and the expectations of the Madhesh citizens were not fulfilled. In the 2070 BS election, the Congress again emerged as the largest party in Madhesh, but the problems of Madhesh did not change. In the 2074 BS election, the RJPN and the Federal Socialist Forum came forward, but the economic and social indicators of Madhesh did not come forward.
In the 2079 elections, many
Madhesi voters again approved the Janmat Party led by Sike Raut. Before the
elections, the citizens of Madhesh believed that the party was speaking in
favor of the farmers. After winning the elections, Raut did not even remember
Madhesh. His party, which had won the elections in Madhesh Province, was caught
in an internal conflict. After the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) declared
him the Prime Minister, the citizens of Madhesh once again found a solution to
their problems in the face of Balen Shah. He did not forget to declare that he
was with the problems of Madhesh.
‘I served as the mayor of
Kathmandu for about 4 years. I did not even meet anyone. There was a movement
of sugarcane farmers in Mandalay in Dainik Maitighar, and a movement of
meter-billing victims. We had to remain silent spectators.’
They liked Balen’s visit to
Janaki Temple in the morning, garlanding the statue of Ramesh Mahato, the first
martyr of the Madhesh movement, and his speech in Maithili. They have high
hopes from Balen.
In the field to listen to
Balen’s speech
In Janakpurdham, 70-year-old
Ramfal Sah Sonar of Hanspur Municipality-5, Hanshasha, spontaneously
participated in the meeting to announce the change of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and came to listen to Balen Sah’s speech. He said that in the past,
he had voted for the Nepali Congress, Madhesh Party, Maoist and CPN-UML. But he
said that he had made up his mind to vote for Balen Sah this time because he
had not received the expected results despite repeated assurances.
‘I myself have come to see
and listen to Balen. I have watched all the parties in the past. I had voted
for UML in the 2079 elections. But this time, the desire of the youth is
visible. Let's see Balen once, I hope he will do something,' he said.
Similarly, Anil Singh, a
young man from Chandranagar Rural Municipality-4 in Sarlahi, also attended the
meeting to listen to Balen's speech. Stating that he was impressed by Balen's
Maithili speech, he said that he had decided to vote for Balen this time. 'I
was in foreign employment. Many leaders came and went, but they made the
country an arena of corruption and misrule. Now this time I will vote for
Balen,' he said.
Rambinod Sukla, 67, of
Chakwa, Ekdara Rural Municipality-4, Mahottari, who participated in the
meeting, is a resident of Balen's ancestral village. He said that he also
joined the same party after Balen joined the National Independent Party. He
said that although he had voted for Madhesh pro-party parties in the past, he
will vote for Balen this time.
'Madhesh pro-party parties
form alliances during elections, and break up after winning. They have not done
much. This time, I will vote for Balen from our ancestral village. He has shown
good work as the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. I believe that he will
do something for the country,' he said.
Shiva Kumari Devi from
Fulgama, Nagarain Municipality-4, Dhanusha, attended the meeting with four
female friends. She is a meter badge victim who participated at the request of
the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader.
'We, the meter badge victims,
marched on foot to Kathmandu and protested. But the problem was not resolved.
This time, we participated in the meeting after the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader assured us that the problem would be resolved,' she said.
Harendra Prasad Mandal of Karjanha
Municipality-7, Siraha, who voted for JSP Nepal in the previous election, said
that Balen should be given an opportunity to work without any confusion this
time.
'I have come here myself. I
urge everyone not to get confused. This time, Balen should form the government.
He has not only made speeches, but has shown it by working. His vision is
clear,' he said.
Balen's commitment provided
clarity on federalism and national politics: Chandra Kishore
It is being analyzed that the
views expressed by leaders including Balen at the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) change announcement rally in Janakpurdham, the capital of Madhesh, have
clarified many misconceptions.
Political analyst Chandra
Kishore has commented that the recent political presence of Kathmandu
Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has cleared up many misconceptions about his
role.
Chandra Kishore's analysis is
that Balen, who has been practicing politics independently, has now accepted a
party, which has marked a new turn in his political journey.
According to Chandra Kishore,
since the local level is the closest government among the three levels of
government, there is a possibility that a person who does good work there can
become the Prime Minister. 'Balen has clearly said, 'I work, I don't talk,''
Chandra Kishore said, 'This statement of his sends a message of work-oriented
leadership. Although it is proposed now. But it has given a message.'
Chandrikoshi understands that
Balen has expressed his commitment to work in a strong federalism and empowered
structure.
According to him, after
Balen's speech, the objections to the unnecessary attacks on the provinces by
the 'post-Gen-G' seen in Nepal recently have become clear. ‘In today’s
electoral politics, the message has been sent that federalism is not weak, but
will become stronger, and a clear commitment to it has been seen in Madhesh
itself,’ he said.
Chandrakishore commented that
the religious slogan ‘Har Har Mahadev’ was used as a political tool rather than
a cultural program to resonate in political programs. He also interpreted
politics in the country as the use of religious slogans to show a ‘soft
corner’.
Chandrakishore said that the
white dress worn by Balen and the political flag hoisted during the speech sent
the message ‘Pau Madhesh but politics is the country’. He said that the speech
was made in Maithili, which is spoken by the general public, and therefore did
not have the alleged high caste accent.
Chandrakishore concluded that
the distrust towards Balen and the confusion about what he would do about
federalism have now disappeared.
