The then Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, led by Upendra Yadav, became the fourth largest party in the first Constituent Assembly of Nepal in 2064 with 52 seats. However, this party that emerged in this way has since gone through several disintegrations. Currently, this party exists as the Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal.

The Madhesh-based parties, which have been facing a fate of disintegration in every election, have suffered a bitter defeat this time. In this House of Representatives election, no Madhesh-based party could either secure the votes required for the threshold or win a single seat directly. Why has Madhesh politics become so weak? How will it move forward now? An edited excerpt of a conversation between JSP Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav and Kantipur's Binay Azad on these and other issues: The results in this election have been the same in Madhesh, their base area. How have you taken it? The people were looking for new people, new leaders, a new government. That is why they have given a chance to the new ones. You do 'ideological politics' here. However, although you had dominance among many Madhesh voters for some time, it has been in a downward trend lately. Why have voters been distancing themselves from you? Have you not been able to explain things to the voters or have the voters lost faith? Federalism, republic, inclusiveness, good governance, social justice are issues that we raised. When we were raising these issues, we were alone. But today, this has become everyone's issue. We were alone in raising issues like constitutional amendment, change in the form of government, change in the electoral system. But today, this has become a national issue. Today, even those who come as new candidates have written in their manifestos that they will do this. This is our 'political victory'. Ideological victory, victory of our issue, this is our victory. Now, the new candidates have got the opportunity to implement these things. When they implement them, our issue will be implemented. This will be our victory. Let's look at politics as a whole. Sometimes someone brings votes in elections, sometimes someone else brings them. This is not the basis for measuring political success or failure. That is the basis for opportunity and representation. However, the basic basis of politics is ideas and issues. In which we are currently the strongest in Nepal. Madhesh has been struggling for its rights for more than 70 years. However, only a few achievements have been achieved. Do you see any problems in the political line of the parties struggling for the identity and rights of Madhesh?

We have not seen any problems. We, including Madheshis, have fought for the rights, identity and social justice of all marginalized, exploited and victimized classes and communities such as indigenous people, indigenous people, Dalits, oppressed, women, Muslims, Tharus. We have fought for their rights, identity and social justice.

We have fought for a federal republic, a co-resident democracy, and the rule of law in the country. Our ideological path is to establish equality, social justice and a socialist society. We have no illusions. The things we have raised are not abstract. We are clear in our ideological path.

Now the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is forming a government with about two-thirds of the votes. Along with other tasks, it seems that constitutional amendment will be the main task for this government. How do you expect the issues of excluded communities and regions to be included in it?

Constitutional amendment is our slogan, our issue. We have been fighting by expressing disagreement since the constitution was proclaimed. Everyone should be able to guarantee social justice and economic justice. The current form of government is not working. There should be an executive president directly elected by the people and a proportional inclusive parliament. And, experts from outside the parliament should form a cabinet based on expertise, so that they can do the work. 

These and other beliefs that we have been raising for decades, many of which have also been in the election manifesto of the recently-come-out Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Now the next government should move forward in the direction of implementing them. The country has moved towards a federal republic, but the judicial system is still unitary, there is laxity, and it must be ended.

Next, good governance, development, prosperity and justice are indispensable. Everyone needs this, no matter what their views are. Our support is in achieving this goal. However, if there is an act that harms the exploited and oppressed people, undermines the Federal Democratic Republic, or is done to the right or left, then we will have to think differently.