KATHMANDU: The Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP), which is a key player in the new power sharing following the revival of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center), has been divided over which party to support for the formation of a coalition government.
The JSP leaders from the former Rastriya Janata Party background are in favor of Prime Minister KP Oli-led government while those from the Samajwadi Party Nepal have been saying that they should support those forces that joined hands against the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR).
Central Council Chairman Mahantha Thakur and leader Rajendra Mahato are in favor of Prime Minister KP Oli-led government while Federal Council Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Chairman Upendra Yadav want to form an alliance with the main opposition Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) for a coalition government.
However, Thakur-Mahato group’s voice in the party is more dominant compared to that of Bhattarai-Yadav faction’s as the former group has 24 lawmakers out of 34 represented in the HoR, of which two have been suspended.
JSP has floated the release of Resham Chaudhary, withdrawal of cases filed against its leaders and cadres during the Madhes Movement and amendment to the Constitution as pre-conditions before forming an alliance with any parties.
Earlier, a meeting of office-bearers of the JSP Thursday could not decide which party it would lend its support to form a new government.
Similarly, a meeting of the party central executive committee called for that day was postponed until further notice, citing a lack of necessary homework for the meet.
A series of meetings held previously to decide JSP support to form a new government has failed to reach any conclusion, said party leader Keshab Jha.
Earlier, a meeting of the party’s top leaders on March 15 had remained inconclusive on the matter as well. Likewise, a meeting of party office-bearers’ slated for March 16 was put off.
In regard to government formation, earlier the party had held talks with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the CPN-UML, the CPN (Maoist Center) and the main opposition Nepali Congress.
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