Progressive Democratic Party Faces Split Amid Ideological Differences

Kathmandu. The Progressive Democratic Party (PrLoPa) is heading towards a split following serious ideological and theoretical differences. The PrLoPa Chairman Council had called an expanded meeting of the Central Committee on April 11 and 12 to review the unexpected defeat in last year's February elections.

At the meeting, after Chairman of the Council, Santosh Pariyar, presented a document on the new era's new 'Socialist Democracy', the faction of patron Baburam Bhattarai, i.e., the former Naya Shakti group, expressed dissatisfaction. The Bhattarai group boycotted the meeting, stating that the political document presented by Chairman Santosh Pariyar was not even worthy of discussion. However, the Bhattarai group became further agitated after the report was circulated as a decision.

The Chairman Council meeting held on April 25 decided to bid farewell to patron Bhattarai, stating he had separated from PrLoPa, and wished him well for his new journey. Dr. Bhattarai was further angered by this decision.

'It was decided to respect the personal choice of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, who was the patron of the Progressive Democratic Party, and wish him well, as he informed the party that he wished to support the overall alternative and transformative politics independently without holding any organizational responsibility,' the decision made public after the meeting stated.

Regarding the circular, the Bhattarai group submitted a letter of attention to the central office at Subidhanagar on April 30. The letter mentioned that the party's serious attention has been drawn to the letter sent in the name of the Progressive Democratic Party as a circular.

'We reject the contents mentioned in the letter, which was suddenly issued as a circular signed by Santosh Pariyar, a member of the Chairman Council, contrary to the party's constitution, manifesto, methods, procedures, policies, and principles, and contrary to the agreement reached in the election review meeting of the Progressive Democratic Party held on April 11 and 12,' the letter stated.

The letter also reminded that it is the party's constitution and democratic method and procedure to make matters public only after discussion and agreement in a meeting of the party's formal related committees. The letter was also sent for information to the Central Advisory Committee, Central Expert Council, Federal Council, Good Governance and Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission, Accounts Committee, and Review Committee.

Signatories to the letter of attention include Sonam Sing Syantang, Head of the Schooling Department, Tek Bahadur Batha Magar, In-charge of Non-Geographic Province, Kedar Guragain, In-charge of Koshi Province, Ek Bahadur Rana Magar, In-charge of Bagmati Province, Fanindra Devkota, In-charge of Gandaki Province, Asha Kumari Tamang, In-charge of Janajati Federation, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Co-In-charge of Madhesh Province, Chhanda Panthi, Co-In-charge of Lumbini Province, Saraswati Pandey, Co-In-charge of Karnali Province, Hari Timilsina, Co-In-charge of Sudurpaschim Province, and Dhan Bahadur Gurung, Co-In-charge of Overseas Province.

Chairman Santosh Pariyar has given a clarification regarding the public airing of the party's internal dispute. Pariyar asserted that the Progressive Democratic Party (PrLoPa) was formed on the ideological foundation of creating a progressive leftist socialist party. He accused that although Bhattarai was made the patron of the party due to his long contribution to the leftist movement and his former prime minister status, he could not maintain that dignity.

'Some ideological matters were clear from the time of party formation. We had a broad understanding of forming a progressive leftist socialist party. Respecting Baburam Ji's role in Nepal's politics and his executive role, we kept him as patron, but some deviations were seen in his role during the election. Despite the instability seen in the process of nominating and withdrawing candidates, we played a leading and responsible role so that the morale of the workers would not fall,' Pariyar told RatoPati.

Pariyar stated that the expanded meeting held on April 11 and 12 concluded that Nepal's old political forces (Congress, UML, Maoist) have failed not due to ideology but due to the behavior and inaction of their leadership. He asserted that Marxism-Leninism or the idea of democracy are not inherently wrong, but the public has become disillusioned due to the leadership's inability to implement those ideas in practice.

Pariyar commented that Bhattarai's view towards RSP is an ideological deviation. He said, 'The newly emerged Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is merely a right-wing populist force. This force has emerged due to the public's anger towards the distortions and inconsistencies of the old parties, but it cannot provide long-term solutions to the fundamental problems of Nepali society and the issues of oppressed castes, classes, and communities. Baburam Ji praising RSP and seeing it as an alternative is his ideological deviation.'

Chairman Pariyar also clarified Bhattarai's departure from the party. Pariyar clarified that since Bhattarai had claimed from the beginning to be independent and a guardian of everyone, they had fulfilled his wish.

'He had been publicly stating that he was not a member of any party and was the guardian of the universe. Since he claimed to be independent and a guardian of everyone, we decided to bid him farewell with best wishes for his new journey, respecting his wish,' Pariyar said. 'We are on a clear leftist socialist path ideologically, whereas he has moved towards a liberal path, seeing forces like RSP as an alternative.'

Pariyar stated that the party's main goal is to practice 'Socialist Democracy' suitable for the Nepali context. He claims that this idea encompasses issues of economic and ethnic equality. Informing that continuous study and research are being conducted for this, he said that an expanded meeting of the secretariat will be held on May 16 and 17, which will make concrete decisions regarding the division of work and the preparation for the party's upcoming general convention.

After the Janji movement, PrLoPa was announced on December 7 as an alternative political party by the merger of the Naya Shakti led by Bhattarai, Janardan Sharma, Ram Karki, Suden Kirati from Maoist Center, and the group of Santosh Pariyar from RSP. However, PrLoPa could not win even a single seat in the direct elections, nor did it cross 25,000 votes in the proportional representation. Taking moral responsibility for the defeat, Chairman Council chairpersons Kirati, Durga Sov, and Oswajee Bhattarai resigned. Kirati has already left the party and joined the Shram Sanskriti Party. The Naya Shakti faction has been expressing disagreement with the decision-making process.