Former CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Ashok Rai and eight other central level leaders, who had quit the party on October 4, are expected to finalize the new party´s manifesto, party statute and its political programs within a couple of days.[break]
They quit CPN-UML vowing to form a new party to champion for single ethnic identity-based federalism and social inclusion. They have already proposed to name the new political party as Federal Socialist Party and it is most likely that Ashok Rai will head the new political force.
Ashok Rai and other leaders had vowed to form the new party by mid October. Also, former Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong, who quit the party, reaffirmed their position on Friday.
Another leader actively involved in establishing the new party Rijwan Ansari said they were working hard with a plan to announce the new party in a week.
"Key documents are in the final stage and only a final touch is needed, and the party´s organizational structure is almost final," Ansari told Republica.
However, a leader actively working to shape the new party Ajambar Rai Kangmang believed that it may take some more days. "It will definitely take a few more days before we finalize the leadership issue," Kangmang told Republica.
Kangmang said that they were not worried about the timeframe to announce the new party. "What we are more thoughtful about is in making wise decisions relating to finalizing the key documents and selection of leadership because it will have a long-term impact in the new party," said Kangmang.
The new party will adopt collective leadership model having chairperson in the top position and other key positions such as vice-chair and general secretary.
At first, an ad-hoc committee will be formed that will lead the party until a new leadership is elected from a general convention.
Ansari said they are trying to give the new party a reflection of social structures by ensuring proportional representations based on population of all the religions, communities, regions and genders in the central committee as well as other structures of the new party.
Though the leaders claimed that they have already finalized the new party´s manifesto and other documents, sources said the task of determining its guiding principles has proved a stumbling block in finalizing the documents.
As most of the leaders of the new party are from the CPN-UML, they are for adopting Marxism as one of the guiding principles. But some leaders such as Kumar Rai, who quit Nepali Congress to join new party, differ over the idea. The same quandary may delay the new party announcement for some days.
"We can´t renounce Marxism. We quit the party differing with UML leaders as they didn´t work for the oppressed communities as per Marxist principles," said Ansari.
Though leaders from Madhesi, ethnic and indigenous communities from various political parties share common stance on the issues of federalism, they differ over other issues such as Marxism and capitalism.
Related story
Museum hotel to reflect Nepal’s cultural, ethnic diversity
