KATHMANDU, JUNE 19

Four political parties - the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led CPN-Maoist Centre, Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN-Unified Socialist, Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal and Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal officially announced the formation of Socialist Front at a programme here today, pledging to achieve the goals of socialism under the current democratic, republican and federal system.

Top leaders of the four parties vowed to follow the 15-point commitment paper they signed today, saying they would guard against any attempt to reverse the current political changes achieved as a result of decades of political struggle and sacrifices of countless people.

Addressing the programme here today, CPN-MC Chair and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the formation of the Socialist Front was a declaration of war against reactionary forces that were trying to rear their heads and attempting to reverse the current political changes.

Dahal said some elements were trying to scuttle the comprehensive peace accord that first became part of the Interim Constitution and now a part of the constitution. Dahal said they wanted to form the front ahead of the April elections, but could not do so for some reasons and today they had agreed to form it after much deliberation.

Admitting that the CPN-MC had somewhat deviated from its ideals, Dahal said that induction of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN would help his party save itself from any deviation.

CPN-US Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal said the newly created front was not aimed against anybody and it only wanted to bring all progressive forces together.

Nobody should be scared of this front. This is an alliance of progressive forces, and those who are scared of this front, are against progress, Nepal said in oblique reference to CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, who had recently said that there was no need to form the front as the constituents were already collaborating with each other.

Nepal said they were talking to other forces, which they would induct later. 'We want to move ahead unitedly on common issues,' Nepal said.

Baburam Bhattarai, who leads Nepal Samajwadi Party, which is not a part of the Socialist Front, had spoken of the need to form the front.

Chair of Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal Upendra Yadav said oppressed people were still not able to enjoy the dividends of political change.

Reactionary forces were trying to reverse the new political gains against which the socialist front needed to remain vigilant.

Stating that Madhesi, Janajati, Dalits and other minorities continued to face subjugation, Yadav said the constitution should be amended to make it acceptable to all sections of society.

Yadav also deplored that eligible citizens were being deprived of their citizenship.

'The old mindset is responsible for creating obstacle in issuing citizenship (to eligible citizens). His remarks were aimed at the opponents of the citizenship bill as well as the Supreme Court which has stayed the bill.

Nobody has a reason to oppose the citizenship bill that had been passed by the Parliament twice and certified by the president, he said and added that the front was created to achieve the goals of inclusive democracy. 'We may have our own perspective,s but we will collaborate to pursue our common agenda,' he said and added that the front constituents should prove by their behaviour that this is different from other fronts formed in the past but did not last long. 'Nobody should be scared of this front. We are committed to bring forward looking changes,' he said and added that the front would struggle against regressive forces.

CPN-US Chair Jhalanath Khanal said the country was still not able to achieve socio-economic goals. There is potential for industrial growth and expansion, but we have failed to accelerate indoctrination.

Unless we bring progressive and patriotic forces together, we cannot bring revolutionary changes. I want to tell all front leaders that this front should not only be a means to remain in power, but also bring revolutionary changes.

JSP-N leader Rajendra Shrestha read out the 15-point commitment paper. He said a secretariat would be created to do the daily work of the front.

He further said that the front would be expanded to provinces and local levels and constituent parties would not speak against the front's policies but would be free to advance their respective parties' political lines.

Chief of Communist Party of Nepal Netra Bikram Chand said socialist forces and compatriots should lead the country.

Stating that pessimism only benefits reactionary and foreign forces, Chand said the public needed to remain confident about their ability to bring changes.

He further added that people wanted to make their country prosperous and independent and the creation of socialist front would aid people to achieve their long-cherished goals.

Goals of 15-point commitment

• Strive to establish socialism with Nepali character by remaining committed to democracy, republican order, good governance, prosperity and socio-economic justice

• Strive to end class, ethnic, linguistic, regional, gender and caste discrimination

• Advance recognition of identity and inclusion of Madhesis, indigenous nationalities, Khas, Dalit, Muslim, Tharu, backward class and other minorities who have been deprived politically, economically, socially and culturally

• Build a socialist economy free from external interference and the influence of compradors

• Accelerate pace of industrialisation and commercialisation of agriculture sector

• Define powers and jurisdictions of all tiers of government to effectively implement federalism

• Withdraw false cases and release political prisoners from jails

A version of this article appears in the print on June 20, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.