Dr. CK Raut has been re-elected as the chairperson of the Janamat Party, a political party in Nepal, at its second general convention held in Birgunj, Madhesh Province. Sanjay Kumar Yadav was elected as the general secretary.
Raut secured 958 votes in the election held during the convention on September 25 and 26, 2026. Although he was the sole candidate for the chairperson’s post, the party’s statute mandates that a candidate must receive at least 20 percent of the total valid votes to be elected, necessitating a ballot.
Sanjay Kumar Yadav of Siraha was elected general secretary with 618 votes. Other contenders for the post, Mamata Jha and Chandan Kumar Singh, received 220 and 165 votes respectively. According to the Janamat Party, both Jha and Singh failed to meet the 20 percent threshold required by the party’s statute.
New Leadership Team
The convention saw 99 candidates vying for 26 office-bearer positions. Seven vice-chairs were elected: Anita Kumari Mandal of Siraha, Anita Devi Sah of Dhanusha, Narendra Prasad Chaudhary of Kapilvastu, Basant Kumar Kushwaha of Rautahat, Dr. Jayakant Raut of Saptari, Rajay Kumar Yadav of Siraha, and Madhav Prasad Singh of Parsa.
Nirmal Kumar Mandal of Siraha was elected deputy general secretary with 501 votes, defeating his rival Lalit Chandra Mallik, who received 414 votes.
Seven secretaries were also elected: Surendra Sharma, Paras Prasad Sah, Santosh Raj Sahani, Anjani Devi, Radha Kumari Yadav, Harendra Chaudhary, and Bal Govinda Chaudhary.
Party Background and Political Journey
Dr. CK Raut entered mainstream politics in Falgun 2075 BS after signing an 11-point agreement with the then-government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Prior to this, Raut had led a campaign for an independent Madhesh.
The Janamat Party was officially established on Chaitra 4, 2075 BS. Its first general convention took place on Baisakh 10, 2078 BS in Barahbigha, Janakpur, where Raut was first elected as chairperson.
The party achieved national party status after an unexpected success in the 2079 BS general elections, securing one direct and five proportional representation seats, totaling six seats in the House of Representatives. Notably, Dr. CK Raut defeated Janamat Party chairman Upendra Yadav in Saptari-2 during that election. The Janamat Party prioritises agendas such as good governance, transparency, strong anti-corruption measures, improvements in education and health, and job creation.
Madhesh Impact and Future Outlook
The second general convention’s location in Birgunj, a significant city in Madhesh Province, underscores the party’s regional focus. The elected officials represent various districts within Madhesh Province, including Siraha, Dhanusha, Kapilvastu, Rautahat, Saptari, and Parsa, indicating the party’s strong presence in the region.
Addressing the convention, Janamat Party chairman Upendra Yadav stated that the Madheshi community continues to face oppression and called for a renewed struggle for rights and identity. Yadav highlighted similarities between the Janamat Party and Janata Samajwadi Party, Nepal, advocating for cooperation and the formation of a progressive front to advance their shared goals.
Despite its earlier success, the Janamat Party failed to win any seats in the 2082 House of Representatives and Madhesh Province Assembly elections, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of Madhesh. In the 2079 proportional representation vote, the Janamat Party emerged as the leading party in Saptari-3, demonstrating its influence in the region.
The total number of delegates who participated in the convention and the exact number of valid votes for the chairperson’s post are not yet clear. Additionally, a full list of all 26 office-bearers and further analysis on the reasons behind the party’s performance in the 2082 elections remain unknown.
