Kathmandu, January 24

Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai today formally announced the names of 35 members of the Interim Central Council of his New Force, which would turn into a political party soon.

Organising a press conference here today, Bhattarai said the ICC would have a total of 265 members. He also collected Rs 1,000 each from all 35 members of ICC.

Bhattarai introducing the 35 members of the ICC said they joined the New Force because they were inspired by the vision of his new force.

Those included in the ICC were artistes Ashok Sharma, Karishma Manandhar and Saroj Khanal; former bureaucrats Rameshwor Khanal and Praveen Mishra; analysts Mumaram Khanal and Dambar Khatiwada; and Dalit activists Durga Sob and Dal Mardan Kami and differently-able Kamala Hemchuri.

Bhattarai has also included former Unified CPN-Maoist leaders Devendra Paudel and Ram Chandra Jha in the ICC. Poudel and Jha had deserted UCPN-Maoist to join Bhattarai’s new force.

Addressing today’s press meet, Industrialist Binod Chaudhary said it was good to have a party, which had economic prosperity and development as its major agendas. He said politics should not only be used as a means to serve one’s personal interests but to work for the people and the country.

The central headquarters of the New Force Nepal has been set up in Babarmahal of Kathmandu.

Bhattarai had severed ties with Unified CPN-Maoist last year claiming that the party bring about transformation in the country.

Responding to a query of reporters on how Bhattarai’s new force could develop the nation, Bhattarai said his party would focus on development-based politics instead of holding agitation. He also said that his force would also have experts from various fields and youth.

Those joining new the force today are ex-AIG of APF Rishav Dev Bhattarai, ex-AIG of Nepal Police Ganesh Raj Rai, Keshav Dahal, Dr Keshav Man Shakya from Nepa Rastriya Party, Dr Jitendra Mahaseth, Tilak Thapa Magar General Secretary of Communist Party of Nepal, ex-AIG of APF Narayan Pande, Madan Rai, Dr Mukti Rijal, Development Activist Mohani Maharjan, Dr Rajendra KC, Dr Ram Kewal Sah, Lily Thapa, Bajra Kishor Yadav, Dr Surendra Chaudhary, Hareram Koirala and Nathu Prasad Chaudhary.