MJF expels Gachchhadar, six other leaders; withdraws support to govt; split looms

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) is all set to split after the party establishment expelled seven senior leaders including its parliamentary party leader Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar from the party.

In a press meet Friday, party Upendra Yadav announced that the central committee meeting of the party held this morning decided to terminate parliamentary party leader Gachchhadar, who was appointed as the deputy prime minister on Thursday, Sarad Singh Bhandari, party spokesperson Jitendra Dev, Rameshowr Raya and Upendra Jha, among others.

Yadav also announced withdrawal of support to the UML-led coalition government and one-day general strike in all Terai districts on Monday.

He blamed Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala for plotting to divide the party.

Gachchhadar was sworn in as DPM with physical planning portfolio, 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.

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