Four JSP leaders including Chairman Thakur expelled

KATHMANDU, June 1: The Upendra Yadav faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) has expelled four leaders of the opposition faction of the party . 

A meeting of the party’s Executive Committee sacked four leaders including the party Chairman Mahatha Thakur, senior leader Rajendra Mahato, Laxamn Lal Karna and Sarbendra Nath Shukla on Tuesday. 

The faction, chaired by Upendra Yadav,  sent a letter to the Election Commission informing the poll body about the decision on Tuesday itself. 

Both the factions had earlier sought clarifications from each other amid the worsening intra-party rift for the past one month or so. The two chairmen- Yadav and Thakur-- had sent letters to each other on May 26 to submit explanations within three days. In the latest episode, Thakur asked Yadav to submit clarifications two and a half hours after Yadav sought clarifications from him. In his letter addressed to Yadav, Thakur said that he had not received any response from him [Yadav] though he was ‘provided an opportunity to clarify himself before taking an action against him’. “This letter has been sent as a second chance to defend yourself with a satisfactory explanation,” Thakur wrote in the letter and warned that Yadav will be taken action as per The Political Party Act-2017 and Interim Party Statute of JSP-2021. 

 Yadav had also sent a similar letter to the leaders including Thakur. Deadline extended by Yadav expired at 1 PM on Monday. “This will lead us to take necessary actions against them [Thakur and leaders close to him],” said Prakash Adhikari, secretary at JSP party office. According to Adhikari, Rajendra Mahato, Laxamn Lal Karna and Sarbendra Shukla were asked to furnish clarifications along with Thakur. 

As per the Political Party Act, the faction holding majority in the central working committee is given legitimacy. The Yadav faction holds majority in the central working committee and executive committee. The Thakur faction, however, has a majority in the dissolved parliament. Splitting the party is not possible only through the parliamentary party.