Socialism Common Goal

Political parties have been pivotal in the socio-economic transformation of the society. They create their alliances as necessitated by the country’s specific situation. Nepal Praja Parishad, the country’s first political party formed in 1936, aimed to topple Rana rule through its clandestine revolutionary organisation. Then came Nepali Congress (NC) and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) to achieve the same goal. The NC led an armed rebellion against the Rana oligarchy, enabling to establish democracy in 1951. The NCP and other political parties and social organisations had also played their role in abolishing the Rana regime that ruled the nation for 104 years with iron fist.  No matter how powerful the autocratic forces, the political parties, backed by conscious citizens, can roll them over, a fact established by history.

 In the early 1990s, the NC and communist forces came to a common ground to wage a movement against the party-less Panchayat system. Seven communist parties created the United Left Front under the leadership of Sahana Pradhan of CPN-Marxist. The joint struggle against the dictatorial kingship resulted in the reinstatement of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. In 2006, democratic and communist forces again teamed up to end the autocratic royal rule. So forging an alliance among the political parties with diverse ideological backgrounds for common cause has been an inherent characteristic of Nepali political upheavals. The alliance generates synergic impact to bring about desired changes in the society.  But a political alliance, guided by parochial interest, is bound to fail and disappear from the public within a short period.  

Three weeks ago, four political parties – CPN-Maoist Centre, CPN-Unified Socialist, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) and NCP-led by Netra Bikram Chanda – formed Socialist Front with a view to give impetus to the democratic socialist movement in the country. The constituents of the front command altogether 54 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. It has become third force in the parliament after the NC and main opposition CPN-UML. On Saturday, the front held its first meeting at the central office of the CPN Unified Socialist at Aloknagar in Kathmandu. The meeting decided to organise mass assemblies in seven provinces within mid-August to convey the front’s message to the people. It has formed a four-member taskforce to work out on dates of the mass meetings, prepare the code of conduct, policy and progarmmes. The panel comprises Maoist Centre general secretary Dev Gurung, Unified Socialist vice-chair Pramesh Hamal, JSP leader Rajendra Shrestha and NCP’s spokesman Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma. 

The top leaders of constituents of front will lead it on a rotation basis in every six months. Now Unified Socialist chair Madhav Kumar Nepal has taken on the mantle of front’s leadership. Its next meeting scheduled on July 12 is likely to come up with strategy and agenda. The taskforce will also draft a document to realise ‘socialism with Nepali characteristics’. Unified Socialist vice-chair Rajendra Pandey said that the Front is focused on the solution of the country’s problems. “We have been united to unveil and implement programmes in a planned manner so as to give a new height to Loktantrik socialist movement,” said Pandey. The newly-created front has a challenge to prove its relevance in the national politics at a time when the new political forces have threatened the domination of the old parties. It can achieve its stated goal if it works for the fulfillment of people’s aspirations, development and broader national interest.