Seven lawmakers of Socialist Party Nepal have decided to split the party and form a new one under Vice-chairman Renu Yadav.
Lawmakers Yadav, Mohammad Ishtiaq Rai, Pradeep Yadav, Uma Shankar Argariya, Kul Devi Bishwokarma, Surendra Yadav and Renuka Gurung have taken the decision to split the party, according to a lawmaker of the septet.
Surendra Yadav is coming to Kathmandu from Mahottari with government help during the nationwide lockdown to facilitate the split.
The six lawmakers met at the Shantinagar residence of Renu Yadav in the evening. The group is planning to register the new party with the Election Commission on Thursday.
Socialist Party hastily announced unification with Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJP) late Wednesday night to prevent the split after becoming aware of the plan of septet.
The new party will be named Janata Samajwadi and will use the flag of Socialist Party and election symbol of RJP, umbrella. Mahantha Thakur will be the top ranked leader.
The two party will also go to the Election Commission to register the unified party on Thursday. It remains to be seen whether the commission recognizes split in the Socialist Party or unification of the party with RJP.
What the government prefers is crystal clear as it had brought the ordinance on Monday, as now becomes clear, with an intention of engineering the split in Socialist Party.
The government on Monday brought an ordinance allowing splitting of a party with support of 40 percent in either the parliamentary party or the central committee. The act about political parties requires support of 40 percent in both the parliamentary party and the central committee to split any political party.
Socialist has 17 seats in the House of Representatives and seven lawmakers would just make 40 percent of the parliamentary party.
