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Jay Prakash Gupta (Nepali: जय प्रकाश गुप्ता), also referred to as Jay Prakash Anand or popularly JP Gupta, is a Nepalese politician and former member of the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal(Republican) party. He was born in Saptari District, Nepal. Before joining the forum, he was a member of Nepali Congress. His political career was progressing well within the party, but he left the party during the Madhesh movement. He is presently running the Terai Madhesh Rastriya Abhiyan.^[1][2]

Gupta, once an influential leader in the Nepali Congress left the party, claiming it was not seriously listening to the voice and demand of Madhesh during the Madhesh Movement. He was not alone to do so. Influential leaders including Mahantha Thakur, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Sarad Singh Bhandari had also left the party with similar concerns. After this, he joined Madheshi Janadhikar Forum. Due to a difference in political vision, the party was divided and hence Gupta joined Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (Republican).^[3][4]

Gupta had won the 1994 and 1999 elections from Saptari-1 on a Nepali Congress ticket and was once an influential leader of the party in the region. In 2008, he won the First Constituent Assembly Election and became a CA member. Following this, he became Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives in the first Dahal Cabinet as a part of the agreement between the forum and the CPN(Maoist).^[5]

He had previously been sworn in five times as a Minister between 2054 and 2059: once as a state minister and four times as a cabinet minister, including as the Minister for Communication and Information.^[6] While he was in the Baburam Bhattarai cabinet, he was convicted in a case of abuse of authority and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.^[7][8] This is the only case in Nepal when a sitting minister was jailed. At various point in time, he claimed it was part of a conspiracy by individuals unhappy with his actions and jealous of his achievements to destroy his political career. After serving about 13 months in prison, he was released on 21 February 2012.^[9]

Currently, he appears to be away from active politics but remains committed to his own political mission, frequently visiting villages to learn about people's experiences and problems. He is presently running Terai Madhesh Rastriya Abhiyan. He is not seen much in public these days, especially after 2015.^[10] He was expected to contest elections from his own party in 2017, but he did not, and the reasons for his silence remain controversial.^[1][11]

"अख्तियारको थुना"(English-Akhtiyako thuna) by Jay Prakash Gupta.^[12]

Except the 1991 election, Gupta remained victorious in every election he gave candidacy. Still he couldn't contest 2013 elections as he was in jail. On the other-hand, surprisingly he even didn't contest 2017 election though he was expected to contest.^[11]