Baburam Bhattarai will remain only the patron of the party. The draft constitution will make the collective leadership inclusive of youth and women. The party's election symbol will remain the eye.
What you should know
Former Maoist Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma, former Chief Whip of the National Independent Party Santosh Pariyar, and Durga Sob, coordinator of the Nepal Samajwadi Party (New Power), have announced the formation of a Progressive Democratic Party.
The party was formed by ‘progressive, patriotic, and socialist’ forces. The non-communist party was formed by the unity of former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, former Maoist Deputy General Secretary Sharma, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Pariyar. Bhattarai announced the party while raising the flag. Addressing the declaration meeting, Sharma said that Maoism had fallen into corruption because it could not create its revolutionary image. ‘In the past, the Maoists remained around the power. Leaders failed to end social oppression. Parties missed opportunities for personal gain,’ he said. ‘Extreme corruption, nepotism, and musical chairs for power in the country led to disappointment and the Gen-G movement.’
Sharma said that a socialist party with originality would be formed. ‘Building socialism with Nepali characteristics will be the guiding principle of the party,’ he said.
Leader Pariyar said that the new party was announced to develop the ideology. ‘We will have to work on ideology. Progressives should come together to save the nation. Ideas can be developed after continuous discussion,' he said, 'A political organization without ideas will be just a crowd. If we do not work on knowledge production, we will just be a crowd.'
Coordinator Sob said that we will move forward by correcting past mistakes. 'There is no room for making past mistakes. We must fight the weak democratic system and bring about rapid economic development. The proportional inclusion of indigenous peoples, Dalits, women and backward areas has not yet been completed,' she said, 'We are about to establish a new socialist system based on new needs.'
Progressive Campaign Coordinator Sudan Kiranti expressed his commitment to building a party that puts words into practice. 'We have tried to build a party with a method of thinking to solve problems. This is a new historical milestone,' he said, 'We want to put words into practice to solve the problems of the country and the people.'
Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai will be the patron of the party. The party's collective leadership is in the draft legislation to make it inclusive, including youth and women. The party's election symbol will remain the eye. The party has been registered with the Election Commission in the name of Durga Sob.
