KATHMANDU: The Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti), led by Baburam Bhattarai, has concluded its first general convention by passing a 13-point resolution.
The three-day event, held at Pragya Bhavan in Kathmandu, ended with the adoption of key policy decisions even before electing new leadership.
The party has called for an alternative socialist force, arguing that traditional political groups have failed to address the country’s needs. In its resolution, the party stated that an alternative must be built to counter the inefficiencies of old political forces and urged all progressive forces to unite in forming a new socialist alternative.
One of the most significant proposals put forward in the general convention is the implementation of a directly elected executive president and a fully proportional electoral system.
The party has demanded a constitutional amendment to introduce these changes, arguing that such a system would ensure political stability, fulfill the aspirations of the people, and strengthen governance. It has also emphasized the need for a powerful People’s Ombudsman to enhance accountability and transparency in governance.
The convention has expressed serious concerns over the slow progress of Nepal’s peace process, which remains incomplete even two decades after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The party has urged all stakeholders to expedite the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons and to complete these processes on the basis of consensus.
The 13-point resolution also highlights Nepal’s ongoing economic challenges. The party has drawn attention to the country’s sluggish economy, inflation, rising non-productive debt, and declining capital expenditure.
It has criticized the government’s inaction in addressing issues such as the widespread economic recession, cooperative fraud, and the struggles of small entrepreneurs. The party has also demanded the elimination of predatory lending practices and debt relief for the poor, calling for urgent policy reforms to stabilize the financial system.
Corruption has been identified as another major concern in the party’s resolution. It has called for an independent and powerful People’s Ombudsman to investigate corruption and take strict action against those involved.
The party has also demanded that the government make public the findings of past parliamentary committee recommendations and investigation commission reports on corruption cases and take necessary legal actions against the guilty.
In foreign policy, the party has urged the government to maintain an independent stance while fostering balanced relations with neighboring India and China. It has emphasized Nepal’s potential to act as a bridge between the two nations while safeguarding its own national interests.
The convention has also drawn attention to the plight of victims of past natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and landslides, many of whom have yet to receive proper housing and rehabilitation support. It has further stressed the need for the government to ensure the effective implementation of constitutional provisions against caste discrimination and untouchability.
The resolution has also criticized the government’s failure to control inflation, corruption, black market practices, and exploitation by middlemen. The party has demanded that the government take immediate steps to guarantee people’s fundamental rights, including access to education, healthcare, food security, employment, and housing.
Addressing international affairs, the party has welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Palestine but has strongly condemned what it described as genocide and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Palestinian territories.
It has called on the government to take effective diplomatic initiatives for the release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who was taken hostage by Hamas. The party has reiterated its position that the only sustainable solution to the Middle East crisis lies in the establishment of two independent and sovereign states, Israel and Palestine.
Concluding the general convention, the Nepal Samajwadi Party reaffirmed its commitment to forming a new political alternative to challenge what it termed the “corrupt old forces” and to advance a vision of inclusive democracy, federalism, good governance, and developed socialism.
The party has called for a large-scale polarization of progressive, democratic, and socialist forces to drive the country toward political stability and prosperity.
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