As the Upendra Yadav-led Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal (SSFN) seeks closers ties with the Tharus and other ethnic groups to lead a unified opposition protest, other parties in the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha focus on winning over core Madhesi constituencies.

Sadbhawana Party’s decision to walk out of the Constituent Assembly was an attempt to redraw its priorities in a race to claim stake in the ongoing protest, said leaders and observers. The party, without informing partners in the coalition, announced to leave the CA on Tuesday, a day after a protester, Rajiv Raut died in police action in Saptari district.

“It was a clever decision to walk out of the CA though it came a little late. It will benefit Mahato and his party more than any other Madhes-based party,” said Tula Narayan Shah, who closely observes Madhes politics.

Besides projecting the party as more radical than others in the eye of Madhesi constituencies, Sadbhawana leaders intend to use the decision to counterbalance increasing domination of Yadav in the coalition. Analysts say the party’s withdrawal from the CA has also made other Madhesi parties, who could have taken possible ownership of the 16-point deal, defensive.

Leaders of Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party and Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party said they are under pressure to quit the CA but denied any such possibility at the moment. “Our top leaders want to wait and see before hastily taking such a decision. It depends on the future political course,” said an aide to TMLP Chairman Mahantha Thakur.

SSFN Chairman Yadav made his priorities clear even before Sadbhawana Party by taking initiatives to mend ties with the Tharus that had soured following the Madhes Andolan in 2007. Morcha’s official recognition of the demand for autonomous Tharuhat/Tharuwan province for the first time after Madhes Movement was a result of this initiative.

Yadav is not only making efforts to mend ties with the Tharus and other Tarai-based ethnic groups, he is also working for closer ties with other forces opposed to the constitution writing process including the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and the Padma Ratna Tuladhar-led Adivasi Janajati Rastriya Andolan. On Wednesday, Morcha formed an alliance with four other fringe parties.

Yadav is also trying to woo leaders from the Tharu Lawmakers’ Unified Struggle Committee, Tharu Kalyankari Sabha and Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee to start a unified struggle.

Though the Tharu coalition has been separately protesting for annulment of the six-province federal model, Tharu leaders said an alliance between the two communities looks likely in the near future depending on the agenda.

“There is realisation among Madhesi leaders including Yadav that Tharus’ support is necessary to lead the ongoing struggle to a success. There could be an alliance in the long run,” said Raj Kumar Lekhi, former chairman of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, who strives to build an alliance between the Tharu and Madhesi communities.

Many in Morcha fear Yadav might be planning to emerge as a leader not just of Madhes but of Tharuhat and Janajatis too. “Other Morcha leaders suspect Yadav to be eyeing to fill the void created by the departure of Opposition leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Their insecurity that Yadav’s rise could put them in a shadow forces them to look different from him,” said a Forum Nepal leader.

The Dahal-led UCPN (Maoist) and the MJF-Loktantrik of Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, formerly two key partners in the opposition alliance, are party to the six-province deal alongside the ruling Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.

Yadav said the decision to ally with the disgruntled Tharus, Janajatis and Muslims was the decision of Morcha as a whole. “Unity among all the parties is crucial for the success of the agitation. It should be understood that it’s a struggle not only of Madhesis but of all the excluded and marginalised communities,” said Yadav. He added that other parties in the Morcha were not willing to leave the CA unless pressed too hard.

Shah said Yadav is experimenting in Madhesi politics with closer ties with Janajatis and other groups, while other leaders rely on conventional politics. “Other Madhes-based parties had also tried it but that didn’t work out. Janajatis have traditionally been closer to Khas Bahun,” said Shah.

Sadbhawana Chairman Mahato said the decision to walk out of the CA was taken in respect for the “popular mandate” but this would not affect the party’s alliance with other partners and fronts including the Madhesi Madhesi.

“We did what the people are calling for. Other parties should also listen to the people and leave the CA. People are calling us to join them,” said Mahato, adding that he had made several requests to the leaders of other parties to resign en masse.