Rajendra Mahato Explained

Rajendra Mahto
Native Name:राजेन्द्र महतो धोती
Office:Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal
President:Bidya Devi Bhandari
Term Start:4 June 2021
Term End:22 June 2021
Predecessor:Ishwar Pokhrel
Office1:Minister for Urban Development
Term Start1:4 June 2021
Term End1:22 June 2021
Predecessor1:Prabhu Shah
Successor1:Ruhi Singh, Noida NDRC
Office2:Minister of Health and Population
Term Start2:4 September 2011
Term End2:14 March 2013
Office3:Ministry of Commerce and Supplies
Term Start3:18 August 2008
Term End3:25 May 2009
Office4:Ministry of Commerce and Supplies
Term Start4:23 May 2009
Term End4:6 February 2011
Office5:Member of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha
Term Start5:4 March 2018
Term End5:18 September 2022
Constituency5:Dhanusha 3
Predecessor5:Bimalendra Nidhi
Successor5:Julie Kumari Mahato
Term Start6:May 1999
Term End6:May 2002
Constituency6:Sarlahi 2
Predecessor6:Mina Pandey
Successor6:Mohammad Rizwan Ansari
Office7:Member of Constituent Assembly
Term Start7:28 May 2008
Term End7:28 May 2012
Constituency7:Sarlahi 4
Predecessor7:Nagendra Kumar Ray
Successor7:Mahindra Ray Yadav
Birth Date:20 November 1958][1]
Birth Place:Sonbarsha, Bihar, India or Babarganj, Sarlahi, Nepal[2] [3] [4] (Disputed)
Nationality:Nepalese or Indian[5] (Disputed)
Party:Loktantrik Samajwadi
Otherparty:Sadbhavana Party
Nepal Sadbhawana Party
Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi)
Rastriya Janata Party (2017-2020)
People's Socialist Party(2020-2021)
Education:Bachelor in Public Administration[6]
President1:Bidya Devi Bhandari
Primeminister:Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
Primeminister1:Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
Primeminister2:Baburam Bhattarai
President2:Ram Baran Yadav
Primeminister3:Pushpa Kamal Dahal
President3:Ram Baran Yadav
Primeminister4:Madhav Kumar Nepal
President4:Ram Baran Yadav
Alongside:Bishnu Prasad Paudel and
Raghubir Mahaseth

Rajendra Mahato (; born 19 November 1958) is a Nepalese politician, who was serving as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development since 4 June 2021 but was removed from the post by Supreme Court on 22 June 2021 making the tenure of just 18 days and shortest till date.[7] He was the parliamentary party leader of the People's Socialist Party, Nepal, although the status matter of conflict within the party. Though weak today due to continuous party change, he once was a well known leader of Terai-Madhesh based political alliance.[8] [9] Now, he is thought to move to Sarlahi 4.[10] He has previously contested the election from Sarlahi and Dhanusha where his party could win no local level head position and got clean swept in recent election.[11]

Political career

He started his political career from 1990. In the 1994 parliamentary election, he stood as the Nepal Sadbhavana Party candidate in the constituency Sarlahi-2. He came second with 10173 votes. In the 1999 parliamentary election he won the seat with 14750 votes, defeating former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.[12] Mahato resigned from the interim parliament on January 19, 2008.[13]

In 2007, Mahato broke away from Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi) and formed his own party, which later acquired the name Sadbhavana Party. Mahato has never had a stable political party. He joined Rastriya Janata Party. Later he joined Janata Samajbadi Party. In few months, he broke the party to join Loktantrik Samajbadi Party.[14]

In April 2008, he won the Sarlahi-4 seat in the Constituent Assembly election.[15]

Mahato lost his seat in the 2013 constituent assembly elections to Mahendra Rai Yadav of the Terai Madesh Sadhbhawana Party Nepal.[16] The party nominated his wife Sahil Devi Mahato to the Constituent Assembly from the two seats assigned to the party under proportional representation.[17]

Mahato had also become a leader for the Madhesi people, and stated concerns about Nepal's proposed constitution, calling it a ploy to subjugate the Madhesi.[18] On 4 June 2021, he surprisingly joined Second Oli cabinet led by KP Oli whom he criticized the most.[19] [20]

Personal life

Mahato was born in Sarlahi district of eastern Nepal, on 19 November 1958, as the first child of Khobhari Mahato but it remains disputed and a large mass of people believe him to have born in Bihar, India. This claimed by CPN-UML youth wing's present vice-president, Sanjeev Jha.[3]

Controversies

Burning a copy of newly promulgated constitution of Nepal

After the promulgation of Constitution of Nepal, a long strike was brought in light by the then Madheshi morcha mainly in terai of Nepal. Mahato burned a copy of Constitution of Nepal at the premises of Narayani Sub-regional hospital, Birgunj stating that he cannot accept the constitution which failed to integrate and maintain the Madhesi's rights at any cost. Mahato in one of this statement said;“The constitution, in favour of Koirala, Oli and Dahal, promulgated amid violence initiated by the government itself, will never be acceptable to us.”[21] He pictured Prime-minister Oli of being the biggest enemy of Madhesh and Madheshi people many times in past. He had once said;"Oli’s patriotism, protest against India won’t benefit country."[22] On 4 June 2021, he surprisingly joined Oli cabinet, 2018.[19]

Birth and Citizenship

Mahato was rumoured to be one of eight politicians whose citizenship were annulled in August 2019 when the cabinet decided to cancel the citizenship of individuals who acquired Nepali citizenship through forged documents.[23] [24] [25] Although the government has published the name of the individuals, their full details are yet undisclosed.[26] [27] This came into light after few youth of UML's youth organization pleaded for cancelling the citizenship of Mahato and re-verify it. For the same purpose a group of youth including Sanjeev Jha submitted an application to the then incumbent Home minister shakti Bahadur Basnet during First oli premiership.[28] On 21 June 2021, a note was pasted on main gate of Singhadurbar by Naya Party to restrict the entry of Mahato in the premises. On 22 June 2021, a complain numbered C035596 was lodged at CIAA, the concerned authority again to investigate his citizenship by advocate Birbhadra Joshi, Tulsi Ram Parajuli and Anil Bajgain.[4]

Demand for multi nation state

On 4 June 2021, a group of PSP-N led by Mahantha Thakur accepted the proposal of PM KP Sharma Oli of joining the government. Rajendra Mahato led a group of 8 ministers and 2 state ministers to government.[29] However, a statement of him was highly criticized. Mahato included a line; “We remain committed to building an alternative power and will safeguard identity and rights of our people. As long as we are in power, we will pursue good governance. We will prepare for a nationwide movement to set up multi-nation state in Nepal.” The comment drew quick criticism on social media twitter, Facebook and tik-tok which accused Mr. Mahato of playing divisive politics. It was disliked by many high-ranked political leader of CPN-UML, leading the government. On the other hand, protest was organised on Saturday by the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) that demanded prime-minister Oli to step down over the comments. This statement was also criticized by 12 different wings of CPN-UML. Due to high pressure and criticism, Mahato had no other alternative than taking his statement back. Due to this, took his statement back on mid-night of 5 May 2021.[30]

Electoral history

As of 2013, Mr. Mahato has given candidacy in 5 election from 1991 to 2013 where he lost in 3 while won in only one from Sarlahi-2 and Sarlahi-4 each of 3 elections and 2 respectively. In 2017, he filled his candidacy from Dhanusha-3 due to dispute between him and Mahendra Raya Yadav for Sarlahi 2 as both were in same party while Yadav remained much powerful in the constituency of Mahato. Hence, he came to Dhanusha-3, a prominent constituency of Nidhi where majority voters are Yadav-Sudi. Due to this factor and alliance between RJP-FSF where UML supported externally as none among RJP-FSF alliance and UML led Left-Alliance could win single-handedly, as a result he won here with joint votes of duo alliance.[31]

Dhanusha 3
PartyCandidateVotes
Rastriya Janata Party NepalRajendra Mahato30,750
Nepali CongressBimalendra Nidhi27,847
CPN (Maoist Centre)Ram Singh Yadav2,346
Others1,300
Invalid votes2,930
ResultRJPN gain
Source: Election Commission
2013 Constituent Assembly Election
Sarlahi 4
PartyCandidateVotes
Terai Madhesh Sadbhavna PartyMahendra Raya Yadav11,534
Sadbhavana PartyRajendra Mahato8,790
CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist)Ram Narayan Sah8,348
Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum, NepalRam Chandra Raya Yadav5,020
Nepali CongressLaxman Raya2,605
Rastriya Madhesh Samajbadi PartyDinesh Raya1,714
UCPN (Maoist)Ram Kishun Ray1,601
Others2,729
ResultTMSP gain
Source: NepalNews[32]
Sarlahi 4
PartyCandidateVotes
Sadbhavana PartyRajendra Mahato17,073
Terai Madhesh Loktantrik PartyRam Chandra Raya Yadav8,752
Madheshi Janaadhikar Forum, NepalRameshwar Raya6,939
CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist)Raj Narayan Sah4,615
Nepali CongressLaxman Raya4,207
Rastriya Janashakti PartyRam Padartha Shah3,177
Others4,684
Invalid votes2,918
ResultSadbhavana gain
Source: Election Commission[33]
Sarlahi 2
PartyCandidateVotes
Nepali CongressMina Pandey10,795
Nepal Sadbhawana PartyRajendra Mahato10,173
Rastriya Prajatantra PartySurya Bahadur Thapa9,723
CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist)Laxman Paudel7,724
Others387
ResultCongress hold
Source: Election Commission[34]
Sarlahi 2
PartyCandidateVotes
Nepali CongressMina Pandey10,684
Nepal Sadbhawana PartyRajendra Mahato7,828
ResultCongress gain
Source:[35]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: संघीय संसद सदस्य, २०७४ परिचयात्मक पुस्तिका . Federal Parliament Secretariat . 2021 . Nepal . 270 . ne . Federal Parliament Members 2017 Introduction Booklet . 2022-06-15 . 2022-07-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220704131433/https://hr.parliament.gov.np/uploads/attachments/z3qljvte6vwen2cy.pdf . live .
  2. Web site: Rajendra Mahato- CA Profile. Ujyalo Online. 2015-10-01. 2015-10-01. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001144538/http://election.ujyaaloonline.com/candidates/2482/Rajendra-Mahato/.
  3. Web site: अख्तियारमा यसरी रोकियो राजेन्द्र महतोको नागरिकता छानविन. 2021-06-08. Online Khabar. en-US. 2021-06-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210608105948/https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2016/01/370625. live.
  4. Web site: 2021-06-22. राजेन्द्र महतोको नागरिकता छानविन गर्न अख्तियारमा उजूरी. 2021-06-22. रिपोर्टर्स नेपाल. en. 2021-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210622143203/https://www.reportersnepal.com/2021/06/559818. live.
  5. Web site: Nepal: Rajendra Mahato is an Indian national? Part-II - . 10 June 2021 . 2 April 2023 . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402120827/https://www.telegraphnepal.com/nepal-rajendra-mahato-is-an-indian-national-part-ii/ . live .
  6. Web site: Hon. Rajendra Mahto | Institute for Representative Government. 2021-07-05. 2021-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185151/https://www.irgov.org/hon-rajendra-mahto. live.
  7. Web site: मन्त्रिपरिषद् विस्तारविरुद्ध सर्वोच्चको अन्तरिम आदेश : २० मन्त्री जिम्मेवारीमुक्त (आदेशको पूर्णपाठ). 2021-06-22. मन्त्रिपरिषद् विस्तारविरुद्ध सर्वोच्चको अन्तरिम आदेश : २० मन्त्री जिम्मेवारीमुक्त (आदेशको पूर्णपाठ). en. 2021-06-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210622103844/http://annapurnapost.com/news/181802. live.
  8. Web site: Morcha nixes talks offer, insists on all four conditions. Kantipur. 12 September 2015. 1 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001182656/http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/tag/samyukta+loktantrik+madhesi+morcha. live.
  9. Web site: रातोपाटी. आफ्नो लागि चुनाव क्षेत्र खोज्दै राजेन्द्र महतो. 2021-12-17. RatoPati. Nepali. 2021-12-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20211217215739/https://ratopati.com/story/165272/2021/1/27/rajendra-mahato. live.
  10. Web site: धनुषा ३- महतो, जुली र निधि भिड्ने सम्भावना, कसको पल्ला भारी? . 2022-08-13 . nepalkhabar . 3 June 2019 . Nepali . 2023-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405171542/https://nepalkhabar.com/madhesh/139851-2022-8-12-19-37-19?fbclid=IwAR1WOzT5WgT4PjAG0kFrf_UauHBWOoREYUb9TyAAynh3wvk6wbI44YY53q8 . live .
  11. Web site: मधेश राजनीतिको बाह्रखरी . 2022-08-04 . ekantipur.com . ne . 2022-08-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220804054113/https://ekantipur.com/opinion/2022/08/04/16595770933251303.html . live .
  12. http://www.election.gov.np/EN/toptwo.html Finalised Constituencies With Top Two Candidates
  13. http://www.nepalmountainnews.com/news/print.php/2008/01/20/rajendra-mahato-resigns-parliament.phtml Rajendra Mahato resigns parliament
  14. Web site: Thakur group proposes name of the new party as Loktrantrik Samajbadi Party Nepal. 2021-12-17. kathmandupost.com. English. 2021-12-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20211217215742/https://kathmandupost.com/politics/2021/08/20/thakur-group-proposes-name-of-the-new-party-as-loktrantrik-samajbadi-party-nepal. live.
  15. http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=144000 eKantipur.com - Nepal's No.1 News Portal
  16. Web site: Constituency Wise Top 3 Candidate. Election Commission of Nepal. 30 December 2013. 25 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925110403/http://election.gov.np/CA2070/CAResults/reportBody.php?selectedMenu=4&rand=1388411174. live.
  17. News: Sadbhawana Party picks PR lawmakers. 30 December 2013. eKantipur. 30 December 2013.
  18. News: Pokharel. Krishna. Nepal Officials Agree on Plan to Divide Country into Six States. The Wall Street Journal. 9 August 2015. 31 August 2015. 25 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150825025804/http://www.wsj.com/articles/nepal-officials-agree-on-plan-to-divide-country-into-six-states-1439142682. live.
  19. Web site: 2021-05-16. A curious case of 'Olification' of Mahantha Thakur and Rajendra Mahato. 2021-06-07. Nepal Live Today. en. 2021-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607121946/https://www.nepallivetoday.com/2021/05/16/a-curious-case-of-olification-of-mahantha-thakur-and-rajendra-mahato/. live.
  20. https://deshsanchar.com/2020/05/17/357499/&ved=2ahUKEwi_zcqH6ev0AhUhzjgGHTIpCLYQFnoECA4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3fg4UFz4P7t16uMWt9gwjH
  21. Web site: Nasana. 2015-09-21. Mahato burns statute copy, warns of all-out protests. 2021-06-07. The Himalayan Times. en. 2021-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607121945/https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/mahato-burns-statute-copy-warns-of-all-out-protests. live.
  22. Web site: Oli's patriotism, protest against India won't benefit country: Mahato (Interview). 2021-06-07. My Republica. en. 2021-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607121954/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/461/. live.
  23. Web site: August 4, 2019. Nepal govt annuls Nepali citizenship of 8 Indian-origin persons. 2021-01-30. The Times of India. en. 2022-05-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20220523175552/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/nepal-govt-annuls-nepali-citizenship-of-8-indian-origin-persons/articleshow/70524154.cms. live.
  24. Web site: Kathm. Nepal government annuls Nepali citizenship of 8 Indian-origin people. 2021-01-30. India Today. en. 2021-02-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20210204042957/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/nepal-government-annuls-nepali-citizenship-of-8-indian-origin-people-1577178-2019-08-04. live.
  25. News: 2019-08-04. Nepal Annuls Citizenship of 8 Indian-origin People Who Forged Documents to Procure Certificate. 2021-01-30. News18. en. 2021-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210209111642/https://www.news18.com/news/world/nepal-annuls-citizenship-of-8-indian-origin-people-who-forged-documents-to-procure-certificate-2257961.html. live.
  26. Web site: Sureis. 2019-08-06. Rajendra Mahato slams govt for giving false impression of his citizenship being revoked. 2021-01-30. The Himalayan Times. en. 2021-02-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203213712/https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/rajendra-mahato-slams-govt-for-giving-false-impression-of-his-citizenship-being-revoked. live.
  27. Web site: Nepal. Nribesh. Rajendra Mahato questions govt, "Is my citizenship cancelled?" (with video). 2021-01-30. My Republica. en. 2023-04-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20230407040816/https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/71400/. live.
  28. News: Biography: Let me introduce you to Mahato, Rajendra 'bounceback' Mahato. 2021-06-07. OnlineKhabar English News. en-GB. 2021-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607121946/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/let-introduce-mahato-rajendra-bounceback-mahato.html. live.
  29. Web site: Sanjib. Bagale. Oli offers eight ministers, two state ministers to Thakur-Mahato faction of JSP. 2021-06-07. Setopati. 2021-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607121947/https://en.setopati.com/political/156068/. live.
  30. News: Bhattacherjee. Kallol. 2021-06-06. Nepal Deputy PM stirs controversy with demand for 'multi-nation state'. en-IN. The Hindu. 2021-06-07. 0971-751X. 2021-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20210607001115/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nepal-deputy-pm-stirs-controversy-with-demand-for-multi-nation-state/article34745506.ece. live.
  31. Web site: Who will string the Shiva Bow in Dhanusha-3?. 2021-06-14. Setopati. 2021-06-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20210614115602/https://en.setopati.com/political/49355/. live.
  32. Web site: 2015-03-25. Nepalnews.com - News from Nepal as it happens. https://web.archive.org/web/20150325225411/http://vote.nepalnews.com/election/pages/bhaktapur.php#top. 2015-03-25. 2020-11-23.
  33. Web site: 2009-10-03. Ca Election report. 2020-11-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20091003184536/http://www.election.gov.np/reports/CAResults/reportBody.php. 2009-10-03.
  34. Web site: 2008-01-24. Finalised Constituencies With Top Two Candidates. 2020-11-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20080124110554/http://www.election-commission.org.np/toptwo.php. 2008-01-24.
  35. http://nepalresearch.org/politics/background/elections_old/election_1991_constituency_results_english.pdf