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MJF on the verge of split

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) is on the brink of a vertical split with the rival factions maintaining opposition stand over their participation in the government.

Sources say the party establishment is preparing to formally announce the withdrawal of its support to the government after Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal appointed MJF parliamentary leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar as the deputy prime minister without the consent of the party.

MJF establishment are to organise a press conference this afternoon to reveal the party's position on the row.

Party chairman Upendra Yadav, who commands majority in the central committee but is in minority in the parliamentary party, has described Gachchhadar's appointment as a ploy to break the party. Sources also claim that the party is set to expel party leaders and lawmakers who have supported the new government.

Gachchhadar was sworn in as DPM with physical planning portfolio on Thursday, along with six ministers from the Nepali Congress and one from CPN (Marxist Leninist), even as MJF chief wrote a letter to the PM asking him not to induct Gachchhadar in the cabinet since the party had not officially named its leader in the government.

Meanwhile, internal dispute in the MJF turned nasty today as supporters of party chairman Yadav and Gachchhadar clashed at the party central office.

Tension began after Gachchhadar found the main door of the party office padlocked when he reached there to receive felicitations from his cadres. Gachchhadar ordered his cadres to break the door open, entered the party office and received felicitations.

Cadres supporting Yadav waved black flag to Gachchhadar as he was being garlanded. Yadav supporters also pelted stones at Gachchhadar's car when he was returning.

Police resorted to baton-charging to take the situation under control. nepalnews.com June 05 09