Kathmandu, January 12
Chairman of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal has said there will be unification between the two parties only if the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal does not enter the government. Chairman Nepal said if the JSP-N was ready to play the role of constructive opposition, there would be no problem for unification.
The JSP-N is trying to enter the government at the centre as well as in the provinces. We want to be in constructive opposition. There are no problems with other issues. "There is no problem for party unity if there is a rejection of participation in the government," said Nepal.
The CPN (US) has formed a negotiation committee consisting of Vijay Poudel, Gangalal Tuladhar and Prakash Jwala under the coordination of General Secretary Beduram Bhusal to forge unity with the JSP-N. The JSP-N has also formed a negotiation committee group with the participation of Rajendra Shrestha, Rakam Chemjong and Govind Chaudhary to discuss the issue of left-wing unity.
Prakash Jwala, a member of the negotiation committee, said the two committees had been preparing for discussion on unity.
JSP-N Spokesperson and PA member Manish Suman told THT, "We respect Madhav Kumar Nepal as a senior leader but he should not comment on anything or keep terms and conditions before unity."
He further elaborated that the Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal had joined the government by getting its agendas included in the common minimum programme and participating in the power division.
"So, he should not make comments that may go against the unification campaign," he added. "We have not agreed on any terms and conditions and we are not going to enhance any relations on these terms."
The JSP-N has got chief ministership of Madhes Province. Saroj Kumar Yadav of the JSP-N was elected chief minister of Madhes yesterday with the support of 63 lawmakers - 23 from CPN-UML, 16 from JSP-N, 13 from the Janmat Party, seven from the Maoist Centre, one from the RPP, and two independent lawmakers.
The CPN (US) decided to carry out the unity process by negotiating and communicating with other parties and groups from the JSP-N.
Earlier, Deputy General Secretary Jagannath Khatiwada had said, "We are trying to unite all those on the left and move forward under our leadership." He had also said he would hold discussions not only with the JSP-N but also with all the other parties, including the CPN-UML, Maoists and other left wing people and small groups. "It can be individuals or small groups, but we will move in this direction."
Earlier, the CPN-UML had held discussions with leaders, including left wing leader Ghanshyam Bhusal. But despite discussions with Bhusal, he has not decided whether to join the Nepal Samajwadi Party. Ghanashyam Bhusal, who had earlier quit the CPN-UML ahead of the general election, is preparing to join Madhav Kumar Nepal-led CPN (Unified Socialist).
According to Ganga Lal Tuladhar, the deputy secretary general of CPN (US), Bhusal is joining the party soon. According to party sources, Bhusal will join the party as a member of the secretariat.
"Bhusal will join the party by Sunday." Bhusal had earlier quit the CPN-UML after the party denied him ticket to contest in the general election.
Today, CPN (Unified Socialist) sent a letter to Ghanashyam Bhusal asking him to join the party soon. The letter sent mentions that the proposals presented by Bhusal are compatible with the policies, ideas, principles, and visions embraced by the party and therefore the leader has been requested to join the party soon.
"The ideas you have regarding party building are in accordance with the commitments of the party. Therefore, we sincerely request you to join the CPN (Unified Socialist) as soon as possible and participate in this great campaign of reorganising and transforming Nepal's Communist Movement," the letter states.
Bhusal, who ran as an independent candidate from Rupandehi Constituency No 1, was defeated by UML's Chhabilal Bishwakarma in the elections held on November 20.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
