Kathmandu, December 16
After the return of the Congress, Gachchhadar, who was removed from power, lost his party office from the 14th General Convention. His political career seems to be on a downward spiral, even though leaders close to him are saying that a defeat will not end politics.
Last year was not easy for Vijay Kumar Gachchhadar, who started the ‘politics of security’ by merging the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) under his leadership with the Nepali Congress. The 14th General Convention of the Nepali Congress (NC) has taken her downward journey, which started with her involvement in the case of transfer of Lalita Niwas government land to a person.
Gachchhadar, who was nominated for the post of vice-president, lost to Dhanraj Gurung, who entered politics a decade later, by two votes. When Purna Bahadur Khadka was elected as the deputy chairman with 2,121 votes, Gachchhadar, who became the candidate from the Deuba panel, got 1,906 votes. Shekhar Koirala Dhanraj of Pan has been elected as the Deputy Chairman with 1,908 votes.
Before the general election of 2074 BS (November 12), Gachchhadar had merged Forum Loktantrik with the Nepali Congress (NC). Soon after, Gachchhadar narrowly won the election in November, defeating Ram Janam Chaudhary, Gopal Dalit and other leaders of his group. Yogendra Chaudhary and others did not get tickets from the Congress. Those who got tickets in the state assembly were also defeated.
Party president Sher Bahadur Deuba nominated Gachchhadar, who was looking for a shadow, as deputy president. Even when the issue of Lalit Niwas was raised, the Congress defended Gachchhadar saying that it was motivated by ‘political bias’. Gachhadar, who has been absconding for a long time, appeared before a special court on July 12, 2078, the day after Deuba was appointed prime minister and was released on bail of Rs 1 million.
Speaking at a press conference on September 26, Gachchhadar said that there was no claim in the party leadership and lobbied for Deuba’s team for the post of vice-president. The group, which has about 18,000 active members, claimed to have 250 to 260 delegates. Accordingly, Gachchhadar had proposed to make himself the deputy chairman and Ram Janam Chaudhary the joint general secretary from Tharu.
But he managed to get himself in Deuba’s team. Purna Bahadur Khadka became the first candidate from the Deuba panel. Deuba, who wanted to be re-elected in the first phase, had urged Krishna Prasad Sitaula to become his vice-president. If Sitaula had accepted the offer, Gachchhadar’s name would have been cut off.
Sitaula, on the other hand, asked Pradip Poudel to be made the general secretary instead of the vice-president. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki claimed to be the deputy chairman after Pradip got the general secretary post. In the end, Gachchhadar got the ticket of the vice-president by backing Ram Janam from the joint panel’s claim in the Deuba panel.
Now the journey is even more difficult Vijay Kumar Gachchhadar, who has been active in Congress politics since 2027 BS, became a central member in 2052 BS. When Deuba split the party and formed the Congress (Democratic), he got the General Secretary. Returning to the Congress along with Deuba, he left the Congress before the first Constituent Assembly election and started Madhes-centric politics.
He joined the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum in 2064 BS and formed the Forum (Democratic). After being in power for a long time, he returned to the Nepali Congress in 2074 BS. He has been a Member of the House of Representatives in 2048 BS, 2051 BS, 2056 BS, Constituent Assembly of 2064 BS and 2070 BS and Member of the House of Representatives in 2074 BS.
After the return of the Congress, Gachchhadar, who was removed from power, lost his party office from the 14th General Convention. His political career seems to be on a downward spiral, even though leaders close to him are saying that a defeat will not end politics.
Ram Janam Chaudhary, close to Gachhadar, says, “The journey may be more difficult now, but a defeat does not end politics.” I (House of Representatives) lost the election, but I will win again. Because, in politics, there is always potential. ” Another leader, Yogendra Chaudhary, considers Gachchhadar as a representative of Tharu, Madhesi and Adivasi. Therefore, Prakash Man Singh and Vimalendra Nidhi, who were defeated in the election along with him, see the need to give a role to the party. He says, “If he is sidelined, the party will also have to bear the loss!”
