We'll continue to have ideological, theoretical, and political legitimacy • Baburam Bhattarai JSP-N Federal Council chair
KATHMANDU, JULY 12
The Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal suffered a vertical split today as factions led by party Chair Upendra Yadav and Chair of JSP-N Federal Council former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai held the party's extended central executive committee meeting separately. While the Bhattarai faction held the party meeting in Kathmandu, the Yadav faction held its meeting in Birgunj. The new development is culmination of the factional feud that had been brewing in the party for the past few months.
With both sides claiming to be representing the legitimate party, the authenticity row is likely to go to the Election Commission. Both sides blamed each other for parallel party meetings.
Bishwadeep Pandey, who is close to Bhattarai, said the Bhattarai faction would decide the future course after listening to conclusions of 10 groups formed today by his faction in the party meeting.
Asked if there was any possibility of reconciliation between the two sides, Pandey said it depended on the Yadav faction. "If the Yadav faction admits its mistake, stops its unilateral meeting in Birgunj, and comes to the negotiating table, a reconciliation is possible," Pandey added.
He said 230 of the 499 central committee members were attending his faction's meeting.
JSP-N Central Executive Committee member Prakash Adhikari, who is close to Yadav, said the meeting called by the Bhattarai faction was illegal. He said his faction's meeting would discuss what action should be taken against CC members who took part in the 'illegal meeting' called by Bhattarai.
The Yadav faction which appears to have majority in the party is likely to retain the official recognition. It means the Bhattarai faction will have to form a new party. The JSP-N suffered split in July last year with the Mahantha Thakur-led faction forming a separate party - Democratic Socialist Party-Nepal.
Bhattarai presented a paper in the meeting stating that there was a wave of narrow and blind nationalism, racism, and neo-fascism. "Our party had expressed commitment to fight against these evils, but it failed to achieve its goals," he added. He said the JSP-N was formed with an objective of going national, but the party leadership acted like a regional party.
"The main leadership did not show willingness to build party structures in other parts and provinces of the country." Without naming party Chair Upendra Yadav, Bhattarai blamed him for trying to capture the party. He accused Yadav of promoting adhocism and indecision.
"Yadav decided party matters unilaterally.
He did not care about collective leadership. He did not issue tickets in the last election on the basis of merit," Bhattarai said.
He said Yadav lacked clear vision and stance on serious geopolitical issues as he kept silent on the Millennium Challenge Corporation and took a U-turn after the 12-point interpretive declaration was passed in a face-saving concession to the CPN-Maoist Centre and the CPN-Unified Socialist. Unlike Yadav, Bhattarai had clearly supported the MCC deal.
Bhattarai said his party's goal was to transform the current democracy into a participatory-inclusive democracy.
Commenting on other parties, Bhattarai said while the Nepali Congress had still not accepted federalism and inclusive democracy, communist forces were opportunistic and dogmatic.
"Even if the EC does not recognise us, we will continue to have ideological, theoretical, and political legitimacy," Bhattarai stated in his paper.
He said his party was committed to acting as an alternative political force. He said the party would continue to champion the cause of identity, prosperity, federalism, and inclusive democracy.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 13, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
