KATHMANDU, June 24: The upcoming statute convention of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) in Kathmandu will retain the provision of having two chairpersons. Upendra Yadav, chairman of the Party Executive Committee, will present a revised draft of the statute during the three-day convention that began on Sunday, taking place in Kamaladi, Kathmandu.

JSP’s first statute convention is scheduled to begin from Sunday. JSP Spokesperson Manish Suman said that the new constitution will be implemented within the party after the session passes the draft constitution to be presented by Chairman Yadav.

According to him, the provision of two chairpersons has been maintained in the draft of the statute. There is a provision for separate chairpersons in the Federal Council and the Working Committee. Currently, Ashok Rai is the Chairman of the Federal Council and Yadav is the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

During the merger of the erstwhile Rastriya Janata Party (RJP) and Samajwadi Party into the JSP three years ago, the arrangement of having two chairpersons was established to look after the party's leaders. Following the split within the JSP, Executive Chairman Upendra Yadav expressed his preference for having a single chairperson at all times. 

However, the current draft of the party's statute, which Yadav is currently coordinating, once again maintains the provision of having two chairpersons. According to JSP sources, the position of Chairman of the Federal Council, responsible for managing Rai, is set to be retained.

JSP Spokesperson Suman said about 800 representatives from 77 districts will participate in the statute convention. According to sources, new statute will involve a reduction in the size of the Federal Council, Executive Committee, and other committees. Currently, the JSP's Executive Committee comprises 435 members. Suman further stated that the Executive Committee will be reduced to a maximum of 151 members, marking a significant reduction in its size.

The statute convention is scheduled to commence on Sunday at the Nepal Academy Hall in Kamaladi. The sessions on Monday and Tuesday will be held behind closed doors. In preparation for the statute convention, a central committee meeting of the JSP has been convened in Kathmandu on Saturday. Spokesperson Suman said that there will be a serious discussion to ensure the success of the statute convention.

In 2061 BS, the Madhesi People's Rights Forum held its convention in Birgunj, during which Yadav was elected as the chairperson. However, since then, the party led by Yadav has not conducted any further conventions, yet he has retained his position as the chairperson continuously.

According to constitutional provisions, it is mandatory for any political party to organize a convention within a five-year timeframe, with a provision of an additional six months in exceptional circumstances. However, by exploiting loopholes in the party statute, Yadav has been able to evade holding the convention so far. Nevertheless, he has now planned to finally conduct the statute convention.

 
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