Labor Culture Party Prepares for National Intervention, Rules Out Alliances Ahead of Elections

Biratnagar. Hark Sampang, who is striving to establish a new discourse of labor culture in Nepali politics, is now preparing to transcend local politics and intervene in central politics through the Labor Culture Party. The party has announced that it will not form any alliances with other parties in the upcoming elections and will contest using its own election symbol, 'Mato' (Soil).

What will be the future path of this party, which labels newly emerged forces as 'stooges of MCC' and challenges the old parties? Here is an interview with the party's spokesperson, Satya Ghale, regarding candidate selection and future power equations.

• How is the Labor Culture Party finalizing candidates for the elections? How many constituencies have been finalized so far?

The candidate selection process is continuously underway. Although we cannot state the exact number, we have finalized candidates in many places. Candidate finalization has been completed in many areas, especially in Province No. 1. Out of the 5 constituencies in Jhapa, 4 have been finalized. Similarly, it has been finalized in districts like Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur. Today, many colleagues from Kathmandu and the East are coming to Dharan to secure tickets. The Chairman is currently busy with ticket distribution and management.

• Are you planning to field candidates in all 165 constituencies?

Yes. Our goal is to field candidates in all 165 constituencies across the country. We have currently called colleagues from the East to Dharan. After this, the Mayor himself is going to Kathmandu. While in Kathmandu, there is a program to distribute tickets to colleagues from Lumbini, Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Gandaki provinces.

• Recently, you met leaders like Sudan Kirati, the coordinator of the Progressive Democratic Party. What is the possibility of electoral alliance or collaboration with other parties?

We will not form an electoral alliance with anyone. Our ideology and principles are very clear. Collaboration is possible only if anyone agrees with our ideology and principles and comes forward using our election symbol 'Mato'. Friends of Suman Kirati also came with a proposal for collaboration, but the talks did not work out. We set the condition that they must contest under our symbol, but they did not agree. He is probably preparing to contest from Sunsari Constituency No. 1. But I claim that if he contests from there, his deposit will be forfeited. He might have few cadres, but he stands no chance against Hark Sampang.

In Sunsari Constituency No. 1, I say that even if all parties unite against him, Hark Sampang's victory is certain. For the sake of saving election expenses, they could even let him win unopposed. Just as he won in the past when 10 parties united, the same will happen in the upcoming elections.

• What results are you expecting in the upcoming elections?

We are assessing and preparing to form a majority government, encompassing both direct and proportional representation. We will form a majority government.

• Hark Sampang has been making strong remarks against all old and new parties, and figures like Balen Shah and Rabi Lamichhane. Don't you think this will alienate well-wishers?

We certainly have competition with the old parties because they have decades-old organizations. But these newly emerged forces, which I call the 'National Deception Party' (Rastriya Jhukyauwane Party - referring to RSP), are deceiving the public. They make Balen the Prime Minister through Facebook, but the public has already chosen Hark Sampang. They lack clear ideology and principles. People like Kulman Ghising wear green caps one day and blue caps the next; they lack clarity too.

What the Mayor has said has only opened the minds of the people. Another main point is that all these so-called new forces are stooges of MCC. Individuals like Swarnim Wagle openly advocate for MCC. We have come to cooperate with the 30 million people. We cannot collaborate with those who are stooges of foreign powers that endanger the very existence of the nation.

• When will Hark Sampang resign from the post of Mayor?

He will resign around Magh 5th. He will resign to fully immerse himself in the election campaign.

• How will the relationship with the identity movement and figures like Dakendrasingh Thegim move forward?

We are culturalists; we respect everyone's culture. Previously, because Dakendrasingh Thegim and Rajmanji in Kathmandu stood as independents, we supported them as part of an independent campaign. However, some current forces appear monarchist internally. They lack clarity. We are republican and culturalist. We will cooperate with those who accept these principles.