The Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-N), a coalition partner in Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda's government, has experienced a split, with a faction led by Ashok Rai registering for a new party. This move comes amid tensions within the party, particularly concerning the leadership style of Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav.
The split faction, led by Ashok Rai, has applied to form a new party named 'Janata Samajbadi Party' (without the 'Nepal' of the original party). This decision was prompted by dissatisfaction with Yadav's leadership, which members of the breakaway group described as autocratic.
The rift within the party has been brewing for some time, with concerns about the unilateral decisions made by Yadav and his alleged disrespect towards lawmakers. Additionally, there were tensions over Yadav's attempts to break the ruling coalition, which led to a feeling among some members that a new party was necessary for the stability of the government.
Despite the split, the party establishment maintains that the party remains intact and that only a dissident faction has broken away. However, the split has raised questions about the stability of the government, although it is currently believed that the coalition's majority in Parliament remains unaffected.
The legal implications of the split are still being evaluated, as there are no clear provisions in the Political Party Act to guide the formation process after such a division. The split follows a pattern seen in other political parties in Nepal, where factions have divided and registered new parties under similar circumstances.
Ultimately, the split in the JSP-N highlights broader tensions within Nepal's political landscape and raises questions about the future direction of the party and its role in the ruling coalition.
