JSP holding meeting to forge common view on future political course

KATHMANDU: Top-notch leaders of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) are holding a meeting to come up with a similar view for a new power sharing.

JSP, which has been decisive for a coalition government in the changed political context following the Supreme Court’s verdict, is trying to forge a common view that they should support the party that will ensure the release of its lawmaker Resham Chaudhary.

Both CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have already approached the JSP for an alliance to form a coalition government.

UML Chairman and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is coaxing the JSP leaders from the erstwhile Rastriya Janata Party (RJP) background as Oli needs only 18 lawmakers to form a simple majority government. Oli is intending to take them into confidence even by splitting the JSP if the entire party does not support him, according to sources.

A meeting of the JSP held on Tuesday had decided to ally with the party that ensures the release of Chaudhary, withdrawal of cases filed against its leaders and cadres involved in the Madhesh Movement.

Currently, the JSP leaders are in dilemma whether to extend support to Prime Minister Oli or the other parties who staged demonstrations against Oli before the House of Representatives was reinstated.

Today’s meeting will try to forge a common view on the future political course, said a JSP leader.

Of the 275-member federal parliament, CPN-UML has 121 lawmakers, Nepali Congress (63), Maoist Center (53), JSP (34) other fringe parties (which do not have national party status) Nepal Workers Peasants Party (NWPP-1), Rastriya Janamorcha (RJM-1), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-1), Independent-1.

Of them, four lawmakers have been suspended while one has passed away.