Upendra Yadav’s ‘wait and see’ strategy before joining Deuba govt

KATHMANDU, July 14: Despite its prior decision to join the newly formed Sher Bahadur Deuba government, the Upendra Yadav faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) is adopting a ‘wait and see’ strategy mainly due to two reasons – the case being heard at the Election Commission (EC) and other legal procedures.

A meeting of the faction’s executive committee held on Tuesday decided to join the Deuba government, however it remained silent when it is going to be a part of the government which has been formed as a result of the supreme court’s Monday’s order. 

Who will lead the party in the government? 

The party leaders are at odds on who will lead the party in the Deuba Cabinet. Most leaders and cadres are of the view that party Chairman Upendra Yadav should not lead the party when it joins the government. No proposal was tabled at Tuesday's meeting in this regard. 

When disputes began to surface in the JSP, Yadav said that he would not join any government. “I’ll rather run party organization. Friends will join the government.” 

However, sources close to Yadav revealed that Yadav is in mood to lead the party in the Deuba government this time as well. He is aspiring to take over deputy prime minister and foreign minister. 

Party split over the issue of joining government 

The erstwhile Madhesi People’s Rights Forum was split over the dispute who would lead the party while joining the Madhav Kumar Nepal government in 2009.  A key leader of the party, Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar joined the government, leaving the party vertically split. 

Later on, another leader JP Gupta also split the party over the dispute over who would lead the party in the Baburam Bhattarai-led government in 2011. 

Meanwhile, the JSP, which was formed as a result of merger deal between the Federal Socialist Party and Rastriya Janata Party, is also on the verge of split following the dispute over whether or not to extend support to the KP Oli government following the dissolution of House of Representatives (HoR) on May 22, earlier this year. 

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