KATHMANDU: The Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, founded ahead of February’s general election by former Maoist leaders Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Janardan Sharma together with former Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Santosh Pariyar, has formally split less than a year after its establishment.
The party, launched as an alternative political force seeking to establish a “third political stream,” officially parted ways on Wednesday following prolonged disagreements over political direction, leadership responsibilities and organizational coordination.
An eight-point agreement signed by Presidium members Durga Sob and Santosh Pariyar settled the division of the party’s name, election symbol and other organizational assets.
Under the agreement, the faction led by Durga Sob will operate as the Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti) and retain the party’s “Eye” election symbol, which was originally associated with Bhattarai’s Naya Shakti movement.
The faction led by Santosh Pariyar will continue using the name Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party and will apply to the Election Commission for a new election symbol and a three-coloured party flag.
Janardan Sharma shifts focus
By the time of the split, Janardan Sharma’s faction had become largely inactive within the party and did not play a visible role in the separation process.
Pralopa was formed through an alliance between Bhattarai and Sharma, both former Maoist leaders, and Pariyar, who had left the Rastriya Swatantra Party. However, ideological differences and divergent electoral strategies emerged soon after the party’s formation.
During the general election, Bhattarai’s supporters backed the RSP in several constituencies, while Bhattarai himself supported the Nepali Congress in Gorkha. Sharma’s faction, meanwhile, pursued cooperation with political forces opposed to the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), resulting in a lack of a unified electoral strategy.
The party failed to win a single parliamentary seat, and internal divisions deepened after the election. Sharma himself was defeated in Rukum by NCP candidate Gopal Sharma.
Leaders take different paths
Several senior figures who had joined Pralopa also moved on to other political platforms. Former minister Sudan Kirati, who had joined Sharma after leaving the NCP, later joined the Shram Sanskriti Party led by Harka Sampang. Bhattarai also subsequently distanced himself from the party.
Sharma has recently shifted his focus toward building a broader alliance with Madhesh-based parties. His secretariat has announced that a new political front will be launched in Kathmandu on August 8.
The proposed alliance is expected to include the Janamat Party led by Dr. CK Raut, the Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal led by Upendra Yadav, the Aam Janata Party led by Prabhu Sah, the Nagarik Unmukti Party associated with Resham Chaudhary, the Bahujan Ekata Party and the Federal Socialist Party Nepal.
Following the split, Bhattarai said the breakup had not altered his long-held belief in the need to build a new political force. He argued that the five principles he has advocated: sovereignty and independence, federalism and inclusion, good governance and integrity, equitable prosperity, and advanced socialism, remain relevant as Nepal’s core political agenda.
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