Hridayesh Tripathi set to form a new political party

KATHMANDU, November 21: Former Minister and coordinator of Independent Political Group, Hridayesh Tripathi  is preparing to form a new political party.

Tripathi is currently in India to discuss formation of a new party and is likely to form a new party after his return.

Tripathi who had joined the government-led by the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli after winning the election with support from the CPN (UML) was expected to join Oli’s party but he did not. 

Lately, there has been buzz in the political arena that Tripathi will join the Democratic Socialist Party-led by Mahantha Thakur but Tripathi’s clash with some other leaders in the party closed the doors for him in the party. 

Leaders like Rajendra Mahatto, Sharat Singh Bhandari and Anil Kumar Jha are regarded as the senior most leaders after Thakur in the party. But, it has been learned that Tripathi demanded a second position after Thakur in the party if he is to join them.

"Tripathi won’t join the Democratic Socialist Party, but will form his own party soon," said a leader of the Independent Political Group.

Tripathi is looking forward to uniting all the scattered and unsatisfied groups and political leaders in the Terai region, according to the sources. 

On his first day visit to India, Tripathi called on Harsh V Shringla, Foreign Secretary of India which was followed by a meeting with leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party.