Naya Shakti Party, Nepal

This article is about a defunct party. For the currently active party under Baburam Bhattarai, see Nepal Socialist Party.
Naya Shakti Party, Nepal
नयाँ शक्ति पार्टी, नेपाल
LeaderBaburam Bhattarai
Founded12 June 2016 (8 years ago) (2016-06-12)
Dissolved6 May 2019
Split fromUnified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
Succeeded bySamajbadi Party, Nepal
HeadquartersBabarmahal, Kathmandu
Student wingNaya Shakti Student Union
Youth wingNational Youth Campaign
Women's wingFemale Shakti Federation
Trade wingNepal Socialist Industrial Workers Union
IdeologyDemocratic socialism
Marxism
Political positionCenter-left to left-wing
Seats in Pratinidhi Sabha
1 / 275
Election symbol
Website
nayashaktinepal.org

Naya Shakti Party, Nepal (Nepali: नयाँ शक्ति पार्टी, नेपाल, translation: New Force Party, Nepal) was a democratic socialist political party in Nepal formed by former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on 12 June 2016.[1][2] On 6 May 2019, the party merged with Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal to form Samajbadi Party, Nepal.[3]

History

Background

Baburam Bhattarai was a senior vice-chairman of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and was involved in the party for over two decades, including during the Nepalese Civil War. He became the Prime Minister of Nepal while a member of the UCPN (Maoist).[4] As Prime Minister he dissolved the 1st Nepalese Constituent Assembly to pave the way for new elections.[5] After the constitution of Nepal was promulgated on 25 September 2015 by the 2nd Nepalese Constituent Assembly he resigned from the newly formed Parliament of Nepal and quit his party to form his own political "force".[6][7] On January 21, 2016 he announced the formation of the Naya Shakti Nepal Interim Central Council, which he said would develop into a political party.[8] Finally on June 12, 2016 he announced the establishment of Naya Shakti Party, Nepal under his leadership.[9] The party gained its first parliamentarian after the Tharuhat Tarai Party (Democratic) merged into the party on February 14. Following this Ganga Satuwa Chaudhary was announced as the parliamentary party leader of Naya Shakti.[10]

Elections

The 2017 Nepalese local elections were the first major elections contested by the party. The party decided to run a joint campaign with Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal including the use of their election symbol.[11] In the third phase the election however the two parties broke their alliance and Naya Shakti used their own election symbol. The party won 110 seats in the local government including two mayor or chairman posts. On 13 October 2017, Naya Shakti Party along with the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) announced the formation of an electoral alliance.[12] The party however quit the alliance on 14 October 2017 citing differences with the two parties.[13] The party then joined an alliance with Nepali Congress to contest the elections.[14] In the legislative and provincial elections, the party won a single seat to the House of Representatives.[15] The party also won three seats in provincial assemblies including one in Province No. 3 and two in Province No. 4.[16] The party supported Nepali Congress candidate, Radhe Shyam Adhikari in the National Assembly elections on 6 February 2018.[17] Naya Shakti Party along with Bibeksheel Sajha Party abstained from voting in the 2018 presidential and vice-presidential elections.[18]

Ideology

Founder Baburam Bhattarai stated the main ideology of the party was Marxism.[19] The party supported a presidential system of government with a proportionally elected parliament.[20] They believed in strengthening the industrial capitalism and eventually developing it into socialism. The party also believed in taking "the workers", "the middle class" and "the national bourgeois class" together to ensure wholesome development. The party had stated support for gender rights, dalit rights and minority rights.[21] It opposed careerism, which it sees as pervasive in modern Nepali politics, and had stated "good governance" as one of its platform goals.[22]

Sister Organizations

  • Yuwa Shakti Nepal
  • Female Shakti Federation
  • Naya Shakti Student Union
  • Nepal Socialist Industrial Workers Union
  • Nepal Socialist Hotel and Casino Workers Union
  • International Nepalese Society (INS)

Electoral Performance

Election Leader Votes Seats Position Resulting government
# %
2017 Baburam Bhattarai 81,837 0.86[a]
1 / 275
 9th CPN (UML)-CPN (Maoist Centre)
  1. ^ Represented as Independent for not reaching the 3% threshold

Presence in various provinces

Year Province No. 3 Province No. 4
2017
1 / 110
2 / 60

See also

References

  1. ^ "Baburam Bhattarai led Naya Shakti registered at EC". kathmandupost. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  2. ^ "Naya Shakti close to unveiling party, ideology". kathmandupost. Retrieved 2016-05-13.
  3. ^ "Forum, Naya Shakti unify to form Samajwadi Party". OnlineKhabar English. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Baburam Bhattarai elected prime minister of Nepal". BBC News. 2011-08-28. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  5. ^ "Nepal parties resign as constitution deadline passes". BBC News. 2012-05-28. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  6. ^ "Nepal ex-PM Baburam Bhattarai quits party, parliament - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  7. ^ "Baburam Bhattarai severs ties with UCPN-Maoist, resigns from Parliament also, to remain as independent citizen for now". THT Online. 26 September 2015.
  8. ^ "Bhattarai announces central council of 'New Force'". THT Online. 24 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Bhattarai announces establishment of Naya Shakti Nepal". THT Online. June 12, 2016.
  10. ^ "Tharuhat Tarai Loktantrik merges with Naya Shakti". Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  11. ^ "Naya Shakti to go to polls with SSFN's symbol". Retrieved 2017-06-17.
  12. ^ "UML, Maoist Centre, Naya Shakti Party form electoral alliance for polls". The Himalayan Times. 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  13. ^ "Naya Shakti back to poll symbol 'eye'". Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  14. ^ "Naya Shakti unveils manifesto that promises rapid growth". Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  15. ^ "Babu Ram Bhattarai wins in Gorkha-2". election.nagariknews.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  16. ^ "EC announces PR seats for Provincial Assembly". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  17. ^ "BSP, NSP-N to support NC candidate". The Himalayan Times. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  18. ^ "Bibeksheel Sajha, Naya Shakti abstain from presidential poll". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  19. ^ "नयाँ शक्तिको मुख्य राजनीतिक दर्शन माक्र्सवाद नै हुन्छ : भट्टराई". www.nayashaktinepal.org. Archived from the original on 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  20. ^ "लोकतन्त्रको जगेर्नाका लागि पूर्णसमानुपातिक संसद र प्रत्यक्ष निर्वाचित राष्ट्रपति: संयोजक भट्टराई". www.nayashaktinepal.org. Archived from the original on 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  21. ^ "नयाँ शक्ति नेपाल". www.nayashaktinepal.org. Archived from the original on 2017-06-25. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
  22. ^ "Kathmandu Post- Naya Shakti unveils party principles". kathmandupost.ekantipur.com. Retrieved 2016-05-13.