EC forms five-member bench to resolve JSP row, hearing from July 18

KATHMANDU, July 7: The Election Commission (EC) has formed a five-member bench to resolve the dispute in the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP). 

A meeting of office bearers of the commission on Wednesday constituted the bech presided by Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya. Other members include the election commissioners Ishwari Prasad Poudel, Ram Prasad Bhandari, Janaki Kumari Tuladhar and Sagun Shumsher JBR. 

According to Raj Kumar Shrestha, spokesperson for the commission, the bench will start hearing the case from July 18. He shared that both the factions -- one led by Mahantha Thakur and the other by Upendra Yadav --- have been summoned on the day. “They can also bring the legal practitioners with them if necessary.”

The Yadav faction asked the poll body to end the legitimacy row in the party as per Article 44 of the Political Party Act-2017. 

EC’s attempts, however, turned futile as both the factions stood firm in their claims . Both the factions told the commission that they were ready to split during Tuesday’s discussion at the EC.