KATHMANDU, July 17: At least six lawmakers of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) have decided to part ways with the Mahantha Thakur-led faction and join the Upendra Yadav-led faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP).

While four JSP lawmakers close to the Thakur-led faction attended JSP’s Parliamentary Party meeting called by Chairman Upendra Yadav on Saturday, two other lawmakers close to the faction have announced to be part of the Yadav-led faction, according to a leader close to Yadav. With this, the Yadav-led faction in the JSP will have a total 18 of the 32 lawmakers of the party.

Four lawmakers including Pramod Sah, Amrita Agrahari, Rani Mandal and Ruhi Naz attended the Parliamentary Party meeting of the JSP called by Yadav on Saturday. Two other lawmakers — Naramaya Dhakal and Raj Kishor Yadav — have also announced plans to join the Yadav-led faction. Raj Kishor Yadav had served as a minister in the K P Oli-led cabinet for 11 days.

The decision of the lawmakers close to the Thakur-led faction to join the Yadav-led faction comes at a time when the Election Commission is hearing their case. With at least six lawmakers earlier close to the Thakur-led faction switching to another faction after the Oli-led government collapsed as per the Supreme Court’s verdict, the Yadav-led faction will have a clear majority in both the party’s central executive committee and the parliamentary party.

Leaders close to Yadav said they will be able to secure the official recognition as JSP, while the Thakur-led faction will have to form a new party if they choose not to stay in the same party.

Meanwhile, Thakur as well as other senior leaders close to him held a meeting with former Prime Minister Oli at his residence in Balkot on Saturday. Sources said the meeting dwelled on the current political situation and their strategies to fail Sher Bahadur Deuba’s bid to secure a vote of confidence in parliament.

 
• Janata_Samajbadi_Party
 
• Intra-Party_Row
 
• Upendra_Yadav
 
• Mahantha_Thakur