By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel Traditionally a Nepali Congress bastion, some Tarai-centric parties rose to prominence in the region after several Tarai movements raised the agenda of the Tarai people. Within a short time, they were able to become a force to reckon with. However, as the old adage goes “nothing is permanent”, this time-tested adage seems very relevant to our Tarai-based parties. Beset by internal disputes and splits and miserably failing to carry forward the agenda, they are struggling for relevance in their own base.  Until a few years ago, Tarai-based parties were just limited within the Tarai region with no strong say in national politics. They were viewed as a meadow in national politics. Their role in defending and strengthening democracy was not taken into consideration. However, with the Tarai uprising, which played in the political transformation of the nation, Tarai-centric parties become the forces to reckon with.   But now the same Tarai-centric parties are losing grip in Tarai. The innocent Tarai people feel that they have been betrayed by the party and leaders who are passionate about power ignoring their plight and grievances. They argue that some handful of elites are enjoying the rights while the majority of Tarai people are underprivileged and underrepresented.  Now with the general election inching closer, the Tarai people seem in no mood to elect them laying the ground to suffer for the next five years. The upcoming polls will certainly Tarai decide whether they are a real messiah of Tarai or just a leader who concern over the problems of its voters.  Observers say the upcoming polls will have a different outcome than what was seen during previous elections and the Tarai-based parties could succumb to the domination of the large and long-established parties. The political observers who have been following Tarai politics for decades compared the current political situation in Tarai to the ghur (the fire that people sit around in the Tarai to keep warm in the cold season). According to them, the surface has no flames but the inner part radiates warmth and even a whiff of air is enough to stir it up. When we look at electoral politics, the Tarai-based parties or the parties that emerged from the Tarai movement appear weaker. But many issues related to the Madhesh movement have still remained a pipe dream. Thanks to the self-centred, egoistic and arrogant leaders, the Tarai-based political parties have been losing grip and trust among the people. The parties that fought together against the Nepali Congress, Maoist Centre and UML five years back are now taking shelter in the camps of the big leaders of the three parties. Now, they have accepted the leftovers—whatever is given by the big political players. This has led to great dissatisfaction among the Tarai people.” While Tarai people were perturbed by self-centred leaders of Tarai-based parties, some new parties such as Nagarik Unmukti Party and Janamat Party are emerging in the region, trying to cash in on the dissatisfaction of the Tarai people with old parties. They are telling the people that they will address the issues of Tarai and will not compromise with big parties when it comes to the Tarai issue. Only time will say, whether they will emerge as a party to reckon with or just like their predecessors.  At present, the CPN UML is garnering strength in Tarai challenging the Tarai-based parities. Given this, some Tarai-centric leaders are defecting to CPN-UML and Nepali Congress. This clearly indicates that our leaders -- whether Tarai-centric or CPN UML, NC or Maoist, tend to change their position when and where opportunities emerge.  As the Tarai-based parties have miserably failed to walk their talk, the Tarai people are fed up with their representatives. If the media reports are anything to go by, the voters in the region will rethink after voting for the same set of leaders a couple of times. “The Tarai-based parties have also failed to bring the marginalised people and the youth to power, just like the big political parties. No doubt, the Tarai Movement played a significant role in political transformation. However, there are differences between their promises and delivery. Even more threatening is the fact that UML and other major parties are eyeing to capitalize on the public disenchantment    Observers foresee some drastic changes in Tarai politics. The UML will increase seats in light of the recent defections of Tarai leaders into the party. Loktantrik Samajbadi Party will meanwhile struggle for its very existence. The Janata Samajbadi Party will lose some power. The upcoming elections could offer more glimpses of further weakening of the identity-based parties in Tarai, in what will be a major change in the region. It is really very disheartening to see parties who claim to be the messiah of the innocent Tarai deceiving them. They are beating their own trumpet bypassing their commitment and promise. Their lust for power clearly suggests that innocent Tarai's plight and grievances will not be addressed as long as some power mongers continue to deceive them.