KATHMANDU: The Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) has decided to stake claim the government leadership arguing that it has been repeatedly betrayed by the previous governments.

Party leader Raj Kishor Yadav said that the party would now propose to form a coalition government with Nepali Congress and CPN-UML under the leadership of JSP.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the parliamentary party held at its parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar Friday failed to elect its parliamentary party (PP) leader.

The meeting was expected to pick its PP leader. However, the issue was put on hold owing to “internal disputes”.

The JSP, which has been in a decisive role in the new power equation, failed to elect its parliamentary party leader.

Even though party leaders, including Mahantha Thakur, Upendra Yadav, Rajendra Mahato, and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai were labeled as aspirants, speculations were that Mahantha Thakur would be picked as the PP leader.

It should be noted that the party has formed a two-member task-force under the leadership of party leader Laxman Lal Karna with Sarbendra Nath Shukla as member to hold talks with the CPN-UML on government formation.

The task-force is also scheduled to hold talks with the government task-force this evening.

The JSP, which has been decisive for a new power equation following the Supreme Court’s verdict, is also holding talks with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba today itself.

Political parties are approaching the JSP for a new power-sharing in the changed political scenario after the SC restored the erstwhile CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center).

Similarly, JSP held a meeting with Prime Minister KP Oli on government formation, and other issues on Thursday.

Talks between Prime Minister Oli and JSP leaders had ended on a “positive note” with the latter expressing their commitment to cooperate with the government if their demands were met.

The three-hour-long talks held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar on Thursday evening had focused on the issues of the Madhes-based parties.

The JSP leaders even expressed their commitment to cooperate with the government if the latter fulfilled their demands, including the release of its leader Resham Chaudhary, constitution amendment, among others.

Earlier, CPN (Maoist Chairman) Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda also had approached JSP leaders for their alliance for a new power-sharing.