Dakendra Singh Thegim is one of the active leaders of the identity movement in Koshi Province. Since 2079 BS, he has continuously led the movement demanding the renaming of Province 1 based on identity as the coordinator of the Joint Struggle Committee.

Thegim, who garnered attention as an independent candidate in the Ilam by-election, is considered a leader with clear views on identity, inclusivity, proportionality and federalism.

Recently, he is a central member of the Ujjaya Nepal Party, which is affiliated with Kulman Ghising, and is trying to connect identity-based ideas with a modern and inclusive political structure. A brief conversation with him by Kantipur's Parbat Portal :

Now that you have joined the Ujjaya Nepal Party, have you now abandoned the issue of identity?

– No, I joined it because the Ujjaya Nepal Party carries the issue of identity. Federalism, democracy, proportionality, inclusivity, secularism, culture, community socialism and multiculturalism are all issues of identity. These things are clearly written in our statute. Identity does not necessarily mean that the name Limbuwan must be used, it must be a tribal party. This is a misunderstanding.

There are various identity-oriented forces in the ‘Province 1 Re-nomination Joint Struggle Committee’, which you are the coordinator of, what will be the future of the movement now that you have joined a new party?

– The movement is still going on. The issue of identity is not limited to any one party. Any force that carries an inclusive, proportional, multicultural, federal democratic character is an identity-oriented force. The Ujjaya Party carries these things. That is why I have come here. Now other friends should take the leadership of the movement. I believe that this movement should be carried forward by organizations, not parties.

But many within the identity-oriented circle wanted all the fronts and parties to come together in one party and move forward, but you joined another party, why?

– We tried a lot to get the old parties to start building a new party. But they did not want to understand me. He stood by his own stance. The old structures including the Janmukti Party, the Federal Democratic National Forum, and the Janata Samajwadi Party have now been phased out. We understand that they could not do anything for years, and they cannot do it now. That is why I felt the need for a new party.

Is cooperation between identity-based forces possible now?

– Cooperation will always remain. I joined a new party, not giving up my ideas. There is still a possibility of an alliance or a front in the elections. Because our ideas are the same, multicultural, inclusive, proportional, federalism, democracy.

Your relationship with Dharan Mayor Hark Sampang seems to have deteriorated, why?

– This is just a political misunderstanding. The relationship with him was fine. However, his followers are trying to spoil it. He helped me to seek votes in the Ilam by-election. But, just because he asked for votes, it doesn't mean I have to join the party. It may be my personal matter. Like him, other parties and leaders also helped at that time. That doesn't mean I have to join their party.