Kathmandu, February 17

Forty dissident leaders, including five central members, of the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal quit the party today.

Two of the CC members  Rizwan Ansari and Raj Kumar Yadav  were expelled by the FSF-Nepal on Saturday for working against the party’s interests.

Central members Ansari, Yadav, Bir Bahadur Lama, Norsang Sherpa and Rameshwar Yadav organised a press meet in the capital today to make the announcement.

Meanwhile, the dissident leaders issued a statement under the banner of Sanghiya Nawa Bichar Samuha, an outfit coordinated by Ansari, to announce their decision to quit the party.

They had formed the Sanghiya Nava Bichar Samuha to press the party leadership to ensure proportional representation of all ethnic groups in all structures of the party from the district to the top level.

Earlier, Ansari had warned the party that if their grievances were not addressed within the party they would take a decision by calling a national gathering of the party.

They had accused the party leadership of imposing individualistic thoughts and doing away with principles of proportional inclusion. Ansari is a former Minister of State for Home Affairs.

Speaking at an interaction here today, Ansari said party took action against him and other friends for advocating proportional inclusion within the party.

Ansari said the new group would organise a national cadres’ meet in Kathmandu on March 12 and take necessary decisions.

Ansari said the dissident leaders of the party fought against irresponsible, non-democratic and illegal activities of the party and its leadership.