People's Socialist Party, Nepal

The People's Socialist Party, Nepal (abbr. PSP-N; Nepali: जनता समाजवादी पार्टी, नेपाल), also known as Janata Samajbadi Party is the sixth-largest political party in Nepal.[3] Since the 2022 local election, the party has been limited to stand only as the third largest party of Madhesh Province after the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) respectively.[4] Recently the party emerged as a member party in Socialist Front.

People's Socialist Party, Nepal
जनता समाजवादी पार्टी, नेपाल
AbbreviationPSP-N
ChairpersonUpendra Yadav
SpokespersonManish Kumar Suman[1]
Founded22 April 2020; 4 years ago (2020-04-22)
Merger ofRJPN
SPN
HeadquartersBalkumari, Lalitpur
Student wingSocialist Student Union, Nepal
Youth wingSocialist Youth Union, Nepal
Women's wingSocialist Women Union, Nepal
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
Secularism
Federalism
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing
AllianceSamajbadi Morcha[2]
ECN StatusNational Party
Seats in Pratinidhi Sabha
12 / 275
Seats in Rastriya Sabha
3 / 59
Seats in Provincial Assemblies
20 / 550
Chief Ministers
1 / 7
Mayors/Chairs
30 / 753
Councillors
1,548 / 35,011
Election symbol
Party flag
Website
peoplesocialist.org

With 11 out of 275 seats in the lower house House of Representative and 3 out of 59 seats in the upper house National Assembly, the party is the sixth largest and one of the most powerful bargaining political party in the Federal Parliament.

Ideology

The party advocates for identity based federalism and a more inclusive parliament. They also support a more decentralized government structure which guarantee of more power to provincial and local governments. The party intends to implement the agreements of the Nepalese Civil War, Madheshi movement and various other movements.[5]

History

Formation of PSP-N

The Rastriya Janata Party Nepal and Samajbadi Party, Nepal were in constant negotiations throughout 2019 with talks failing or being in limbo because of issues relating to power sharing and Samajbadi Party, Nepal not withdrawing support from the K.P. Oli led government.[6][7][8][9]

Samajbadi Party finally quit the government in late on 24 December 2019 after the Prime minister rejected the party's proposals on constitution amendments while demoting Yadav from the post of Health Minister.[10] The failure to quit the government despite repeated calls before had put a deadlock on the negotiations between the two parties.[11] Hopes of unification suffered a further blow when RJPN announced an electoral alliance with the ruling Nepal Communist Party for the 2020 National Assembly elections while the Samajbadi Party, Nepal announced electoral alliance with Nepali Congress.[12] Negotiations for unification still continued through early 2020 with issues relating to power sharing and leadership still becoming a major sticking point for both parties rather than ideology.[13][14]

As per trusted sources and national media's, Renu Yadav wanted to split the party with seven other MPs which included Bimal Prasad Shrivastav, Surendra Kumar Yadav, Mohammad Estiyak Rai, Pradeep Yadav, Umashankar Argariya, Kalu Devi Bishwakarma and Renuka Gurung. Though the plan went unsuccess do to last moment merger of Samajbadi Party, Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal to form People's Socialist Party, Nepal it was highly covered by national medias.[15][16]

The deadlock finally broke on 23 April 2020 after this incident and the two parties finally reached an agreement for a merger just two days after the government issued an ordinance that amended the Political Party Act which made it possible for a party to split if supported by 40% of either the party's central committee or its parliamentarians,[17][18] The new party, People's Socialist Party, Nepal was officially registered with the Election Commission on 9 July 2020.[19]

It was formed by the merger of the two parties in Nepal, the Samajbadi Party, Nepal, led by Baburam Bhattarai and Upendra Yadav, and the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, led by the presidium of Mahantha Thakur and five others.[20]

Election year 2023

The party faces a major setback in the 2022 Nepalese local elections when it had to lose majority of places it contested. The party had to lose Hanumannagar Kankalini municipality and Balan Bihul rural municipality to newly formed Janamat Party led by CK Raut. Among these, son of provincial minister Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi lost as mayor in Hanumannagar Kankalini.[21]

Party's leader and chief minister Lalbabu Raut lost his own home town, Jagarnathpur Rural Municipality to Nepali Congress. Even his wife Jalekha Khatun lost as deputy chairperson candidate. Similarly, the party lost its security deposits in various local levels of Madhesh Province and all over Nepal which it had contested for not attaining even 10% vote. Party's candidate for mayor in Janakpur, Lal Kishor Sah could attain only fifth position and lost to Nepali Congress leader Manoj Kumar Sah. As a result, Nepali Congress stood as single largest party in Madhesh Province.[22] As a result, the party was limited to become only the third largest party of Madhesh province being able to win just 28 local levels in province compared to 45 which it had before elections.[23] This was seen as an effect of split in party forming Loktantrik Samajwadi Party and the rise of Janamat Party, Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party in eastern terai while Janata Pragatisheel Party and Nagrik Unmukti Party in western terai of Nepal.[4]

The party had to bear a huge loss all over Nepal. Party's Chairman Upendra Yadav lost his seat Saptari 2 to CK Raut of Janamat Party. Similarly the party was limited to 6 of 32 seats in Madhesh Province. The party was even limited to third position after Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) respectively in Madhesh Provincial Assembly winning just 16 of 107 seats.[24]

Organization and structure

Central working committee

The party has 20 membered central working committee.[25]

Central committee

The party has 400 membered central committee.[25]

Leadership

Federal council chairmen

Executive chairmen

Chief ministers

Madhesh Province

No.Chief MinisterPortraitTerm in officeLegislatureCabinetConstituency
StartEndTenure
1[a]Lalbabu Raut
14 February 2018[28]13 January 20234 years, 333 days1st Provincial AssemblyRaut, 2017Parsa 1(B)
2Saroj Kumar Yadav
13 January 2023[29]Incumbent1 year, 107 days2nd Provincial AssemblyYadav, 2023Bara 1 (B)

Electoral performance

General election

ElectionLeaderParty list votesSeatsPositionResulting government
No.%
2022Upendra Yadav421,3133.99
12 / 275
6thCoalition government

Provincial election

ProvinceElectionLeaderParty list votesSeatsPositionResulting government
No.%
Province 12022Upendra Yadav61,7233.25
1 / 93
6thCoalition government
Madhesh298,77414.32
16 / 107
3rdCoalition government
Lumbini60,8863.23
3 / 87
7thConfidence & supply

Local election

ElectionLeader(s)Seats
Mayor/ChairmanCouncillors
2022Upendra Yadav
30 / 753
1,548 / 35,097

List of Members of Parliament

List of Rastriya Sabha members from People's Socialist Party

People's Socialist Party (3)
ProvinceCategoryMemberPortfolio & Responsibilities / Remarks
MadheshOpenMrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav
  • Parliamentary party leader
OpenMohammad Khalid Siddiqui
WomanPramila Kumari

List of Pratinidhi Sabha members from People's Socialist Party

People's Socialist Party (12)
Constituency/PR groupMemberPortfolio & Responsibilities / Remarks
Saptari 1Nawal Kishore Sah Sudi
  • Parliamentary party deputy leader
Bara 2Upendra Yadav
Dhanusha 1Dipak Karki
Parsa 1Pradeep Yadav
Siraha 2Raj Kishor Yadav
Siraha 4Birendra Prasad Mahato
Sunsari 1Ashok Rai
Khas AryaPrakash Adhikari
Khas AryaRekha Yadav Thapa
Indigenous peoplesSushila Shrestha
MadheshiRanju Kumari Jha
MuslimShahnaz Rahman

See also

Notes

References