Madheshi politics in Nepal

Madheshi politics was conceived with Terai congress in 1950s, born and raised with Nepal Sadbhawana party of 1990s and reached to its height with "Madhesh agitations" led by Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) in 2007 and Madheshi Front in 2008 and 2015.

In the first government (Feb 13, 1951) after the end of Rana Dynasty there were 10 members including 1 madheshi leader Bhadrakali Mishra as he was somehow linked with Nepali congress and a madheshi as well.

9 political parties took part in the first election of Nepal in 1959 (2015 BS). Terai congress, one among them, was a geographical party focused in Terai-madhesh region of Nepal. This party was the one of splinter of the original Nepali congress party and it was led by Badananda Jha. Terai congress did not won any seat among 109 total but got 2.1% popular vote. Another party, one fraction of Nepal Prajaparishad was led by a Madheshi leader Bhadrakali Mishra. This party however won 1 seat and got 3.3% popular vote.

King Mahendra imposed Panchayati System in Dec 15, 1960 banning all political parties in Nepal. So major activities of political parties got limited in India after that. Most of the madheshi leaders were engaged with Nepali congress party.

Gajendra Narayan Singh, the iconic Madheshi leader, founded "Nepal Sadbhawana Party" in 1985 and remained the president of party until he died in Jan 23, 2002. This party was the first Madheshi party in modern Nepali politics after restoration of the democracy.

Democratic election held in May 12, 1991. NSP had 75 candidates in 205 constituencies and won 6 seats (4.1% popular vote) in the election.

In the general election of 1994 NSP won 3 seats and 3.49% popular votes.

Gajendra Narayan Singh won from Saptrai 2,

Anish Ansari won from Saptari 3 and

Hridayas Tripathi won from Nawalparasi 3.

In Sarlahi 2 Rajendra Mahato was defeated by Meena Pandey of Nepali congress.

In 1999 general election NSP won 5 seats with 3.22% popular votes.

Badri Mandal from Morang 7,

Rajendra Mahato from Sarlahi 2,

Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav from Saptrai 5,

Hridayes Tripathi from Nawalparasi 3 and

Yagyajit Shah from Rupendehi 5.

Party president Gajendra Narayan Singh was defeated in Saptari 2.

After the successful agitation led by an organization called "Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF)" madheshi politics reached to the new height. In Aug 30, 2007 government made 22 point deal with the protesters. MJF led by Upendra Yadav leter transformed itself to the political party.

Many Madheshi leaders from Nepali Congress, Nepal Sadbhawana Party and CPN UML saw that as an opportunity. Nepali congress leader Mahanta Thakur founded his "Terai-madhesh loktantrik party" in Dec 2008. Mahendra Raya Yadav (UML), Hridayesh Tripathi (NSP), Sarbendra Nath Shukla (RPP), Anish Ansari (NSP), Ram Chandra Kushwaha (NC) etc were other founding members of TMLP.

Rajendra Mahato split from Nepal Sadbhawana Party to form his "Sadbawana Party" in sep 2007.

MJF itself split in Sep-dec 2007. Bhagyanath Gupta, Kishor Kumar Bishwash, Ram Kumar Sharma and Jitendra Sonal expelled from the original MJF and founded their own MJF-Madhesh after that.

The following constituent assembly election in Apr 2008 Madheshi parties had huge success. MJF and TMLP became 4th and 5th largest party winning 54 and 21 seats respectively among total 601 seats of the CA.

But since 2008 until the next election in 2013 all of these parties got several splits. Result of 2013 election bad for Madheshi parties.
In July 2008, Constituent Assembly elected President and Vice-President of Nepal from Madheshi community. Nepali congress candidate Ram Baran Yadav defeated another madheshi candidate Ram Raja Prasad Singh (Maoist's candidate) and became the first president of Nepal. Parmananda Jha from MJF elected as the first vice-president of Nepal.

2008 winning of CA (total 601 seats)
Madheshi Janadhikar Forum, Nepal - 54 seats
Terai Madhesh Loktantrik party - 21 seats
Sadbhawana Party - 9 seats
Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) - 3 seats

2013 winning of CA (total 601 seats)
Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum, Nepal (Loktantrik) - 14 (Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar)
Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum, Nepal - 10 (Upendra Yadav)
Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party - 11 (Mahanta Thakur)
Sadbhawana Party - 6 (Rajendra Mahto)
Rastriya Madhesh Samajbadi Party - 3 (Sharat Singh Bhandari)
Terai Madhesh Sadbhawana Party - 3 (Mahendra Raya Yadav)
Madeshi Janadikar Forum (Gantantrik)- 1
Sanghiya Sadhbhawana Party- 1
Madhesh Samata Party Nepal - 1

Timeline of Sadhbawana Party:-

1985 : Nepal Sadbhawana Party was established by Gajendra Narayan Singh
July 2001: NSP restructured, Gajendra Narayan (President), Badri Mandal (VP), Hrideyesh Tripathi (VP), Rajendra Mahto (Gen Secretory), Sarita Giri (Spokesperson)
Jan 23, 2002: Gajendra Narayan Singh died. Badri Prasad Mandal appointed acting chairman
Mar 2003: In the 4th convention party split. New party formed as Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Andandidevi) led by Anandidevi (widow of late Gajendra Narayan), Hridayesh Tripathi etc.
Early 2007: Badri Mandal expelled from the NSP. Laxman Lal Karn became new president.
June 2007: NSP merged with NSP (anandidevi)
Sep 2007: new NSP (anandidevi) split.  Rajendra Mahato and Laxman Lal Karna formed their own NSP (anandidevi) without Anandidevi Singh but later renamed as Sadbhawana Party.
Feb 2008: NSP (a) broke again. Khushi Lal Mandal registered his own NSP (Anandidevi) with election commission. The original NSP (anandidevi) remained with Anandidevi and Shyam Sundar Gupta.
Apr 2008 : First CA election***********
Aug 2008: Anandidevi singh was expelled from NSP (anandidevi). Shyam Sundar Gupta became new acting president.
2011: Anil Kumar Jha spilit from NSP to establish "Sanghiya Sadbhawana Party - 2011".
2015: a farction of Sadbhawana Party led by Sarita Giri and Sanghiya Sadbhawana party led by Anil jha merged together to form the new "Nepal Sadbhawana Party - 2015".

Timeline of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum:-
Jan 16, 2005: MJF started agitation with Madhesh band (general strike)
Mar 21, 2007: Gaur carnage between MJF and Maoist's Madheshi Rastriya Mukti Morcha, 27 killed
Aug 2007: MJF-Nepal made 22-points deal with the governement.
Sep-dec 2007. Bhagyanath Gupta, Kishor Kumar Bishwash, Ram Kumar Sharma and Jitendra Sonal expelled from the original MJF and founded their own MJF-Madhesh
Feb 28, 2008: United Democratic Madheshi Front (MJF, TMLP & Sadbhawana) made 8-point deal with government and stopped second madheshi agitation.
March 2008: Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar expelled from Congress and joined MJF.
Apr 2008 : First CA election************
Aug 22, 2008: MJF entered the Parchanda government. Updendra yadav became foreign minister.
June 2009: Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar split from MJF-Nepal to from future MJF-Loktantrik.
June 2012: Sharat Singh Bhandari expelled from MJF-Loktantrik. He later founded Rastriya Madhes Samajwadi Party (June 27)
Jun 2015 : MJF-N led by Upndra Yadav, the Federal Socialist Party Nepal (FSPN) and the Khas Samabeshi Party merged to form Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum. Its now 5th largest party in the parliament.

Timeline of Terai Madhesh Loktanrik party:-
Dec 2007: Mahanta Thakur (from Nepali Congress), Hridayesh Tripathi (from NSP), Sarbendra Nath Sukla (from Rastriya Prajatantra Party), Ramchandra Kushwaha (from Nepali Congress), Mahendra Raya Yadav (from CPN UML) etc founded Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party.
Apr 2008 : First CA election************
Dec 2010: party split. A new party Terai Madhesh Sadbhawana Party founded in the leadership of Mahendra Raya Yadav.

Current Madheshi Fronts (Third Madhesh agitation- 2015)

United Democratic Madheshi Front
- Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum led by Upendra Yadav (15)
- Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party led by Mahanta Thakur (11)
- Sadbhawana Party led by Rajendra Mahato (6)
- Terai Madhesh Sadbhawana Party led by Mahendra Raya Yadav (3)

Federal Democratic Front (Since sep 2, 2015)
- Rastriya Madhesh Samajwadi Party led by Sarat Singh Bhandari (3)
- MJF-Loktantrik led by Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar (14)
- MJF-Ganatantrik led by Raj Kishor Yadav (1)

Other Madheshi parties
- Sanghiya Sadbhawana Party (1)
- Madhesh Samata Party (1)
- Nepal Sadbhawana Party-2015 led by Anil Kumar Jha and Sarita Giri (0)