KATHMANDU, June 19: A section of leftist parties including the ruling CPN (Maoist Center) are scheduled to announce the Socialist Front amidst a special function today. The official announcement will be made at 3 pm in the City Hall.
Leaders have announced to unveil a 15-point policy commitment through a joint declaration meeting. The Socialist Front is set to be formed by the Maoist Center, led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) led by Upendra Yadav, the CPN (Unified Socialist) led by Madhav Kumar Nepal, and the Nepal Communist Party led by Netra Bikram Chand.
Socialist Front scheduled to meet this evening
The Nepal Samajwadi Party led by Dr Baburam Bhattarai is also in internal discussions regarding its participation in the Front. However, on June 16, Dr Bhattarai met with the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and expressed his willingness to join the Socialist Front.
Following the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML, the Socialist Front aims to become the third most influential force in the parliament. There are potential prospects for future unity between these parties as they seek to advance their agenda through the establishment of the Socialist Front. They have also positioned it as a distinct third political force.
In the House of Representatives (HoR), the Maoist Center holds 32 seats, while the Unified Socialist and JSP have 10 and 12 seats, respectively. As a combined Front, these three parties will account for 54 seats in the 275-member parliament. Currently, the largest party in the House of Representatives, the Nepali Congress, holds 88 seats while the second largest party, UML has 79 seats.