The merger between Janamat Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party has been confirmed. On Saturday, Janamat Party Chair CK Raut and Nagarik Unmukti’s patron Resham Chaudhary announced their decision to unite the two parties to form a strong national political force.
During Nagarik Unmukti’s central committee meeting, which was primarily focused on party unification, Raut delivered a special address. He acknowledged that not merging with Nagarik Unmukti in the past was a major mistake. “Had we united before the elections, we would have secured 20–21 seats. At that time, people didn’t vote for us with the belief that we would become a national party, but rather, they placed their trust in us. If we had united then, we could have won a significant number of seats,” he said.
Raut stated that they are now ready to correct that mistake and urged people not to feel uneasy about the unification of Madhesi and Tharu-based parties. He also pledged to elevate the symbolic identity of Tharus, represented by the ‘Dhakiya’ (a woven basket), which is Nagarik Unmukti’s election symbol. “This unity is impossible without your consent. Only with mutual agreement and respect can we truly come together. I promise you that we will build a party that makes ‘Dhakiya’ a source of pride,” he declared.
Raut also revealed that there were conspiracies to prevent the merger but affirmed their commitment to moving forward together. Speaking to ApEx after the meeting, he said the atmosphere was positive and that party unification was now certain. “I witnessed a very positive environment in the meeting. The merger is almost finalized,” he claimed. He also dismissed concerns about leadership disputes, saying, “Neither Reshamji nor I have any personal interests. We are far from chasing positions. Since both of our parties have been formed by the people, there will be no internal conflicts.”
Nagarik Unmukti patron Chaudhary emphasized that unity should not be just political but also heartfelt. He urged Raut to be prepared to take a stand as an opposition leader if necessary. “If we don’t get justice, he may have to sit in the opposition bench in Parliament. We may even have to leave ministerial positions and take to the streets,” Chaudhary said.
Nagarik Unmukti’s two-day central committee meeting has formed a task force to facilitate the merger with Janamat Party. The three-member committee will be led by Gangaram Chaudhary, with Sunita Chaudhary and Ramlal Dangoura as members. Earlier, in late February, Janamat Party’s central committee had also formed a similar task force, led by MP Abdul Khan, with Sharad Singh Yadav and Bal Govinda Chaudhary as members.
Chaudhary also called on his wife, Nagarik Unmukti Chairperson Ranjita Shrestha, to join the unification effort. Addressing the central committee, he admitted that their past decisions had caused major setbacks. “Because of you and me, provincial governments collapsed. From today, let’s shake hands and move forward together. Everything will fall into place,” he said.
He further reminded Shrestha that her access to Baluwatar (the Prime Minister’s residence) was made possible by Nagarik Unmukti’s 16 MPs. He warned that without these lawmakers, she would be left politically isolated.
