The Socialist Front (Nepali: समाजवादी मोर्चा, romanized: Samajbadi Morcha) is a political alliance of leftist political parties in Nepal. It was formed in 2023 by the CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), the People's Socialist Party, Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal led by Biplav.[1]
Socialist Front समाजवादी मोर्चा | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | SMN |
| Chairperson | Madhav Kumar Nepal |
| Ideology | Communism Socialism Minor tendencies: Marxism–Leninism Marxism–Leninism–Maoism Prachanda Path Left-wing nationalism People's Multiparty Democracy Federalism |
| Political position | Left-wing to far-left |
| House of Representatives | 42 / 275 |
| National Assembly | 28 / 59 |
| Provincial Assemblies | 110 / 550 |
| Chief Ministers | 3 / 7 |
| Mayors/Chairs | 141 / 753 |
| Councillors | 6,032 / 35,011 |
History
editThe Socialist Front was born as a four party front comprising the CPN (MC), CPN (Unified Socialist), the PSP-N and the CPN (2014) of Biplav Si on 19 June 2023. This was announced amidst a program held at National Assembly hall, Bhrikuti Mandap.[2][3]
It was reported that there would be a rotational leadership through the front's chairman post, with Madhav Kumar Nepal leading the front for an interim period of time.[4]
Member parties
edit| Party | Rastriya Sabha | Pratinidhi Sabha | Pradesh Sabha | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPN (Maoist Centre) | 18 | 30 | 85 | |
| CPN (Unified Socialist) | 8 | 10 | 24 | |
| Nepal Socialist Party (Mahindra faction) | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Communist Party of Nepal | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 42 | 109 | |
Former members
editOrganization and structure
editIn mid July, it was announced that the Socialist Front would have party-like organization at district, provincial and national level. The central committee would have 16 members with four members from each party, including the party chair and general secretary from each party. Similarly, it was announced that there would be 12-member provincial committees with three members from each party, consisting of party chairs and general secretaries, while there would be eight-member district committees with a similar formation.[5]
List of current provincial governments
edit| Province | Portrait | Chief Minister
(Party) |
Terms in Office | Legislature | Cabinet | Constituency | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | Tenure | |||||||
| Bagmati |  |
Shalikram Jamkattel CPN (Maoist Centre) |
10 January 2023[6] | Incumbent | 1 year, 309 days | 2nd Provincial Assembly | Jamkattel, 2023 | Dhading 1(B) | |
| Lumbini |  |
Jokh Bahadur Mahara CPN (Maoist Centre) |
5 April 2024 | Incumbent | 223 days | 2nd Provincial Assembly | Mahara, 2024 | Rolpa 1(A) | |
| Sudurpashchim | Dirgha Bahdur Sodari CPN (Unified Socialist) |
18 April 2024[7] | Incumbent | 210 days | 2nd Provincial Assembly | Sodari, 2024 | Kailali 4(B) | ||
Strength in provincial assemblies
edit| Province | Seats | By party | Status in assembly | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koshi | 17 / 93
|
13 | Maoist Centre | In coalition | |
| 4 | Unified Socialist | ||||
| Madhesh | 16 / 107
|
9 | Maoist Centre | In coalition | |
| 7 | Unified Socialist | ||||
| Bagmati | 28 / 110
|
21 | Maoist Centre | Maoist government | |
| 7 | Unified Socialist | ||||
| Gandaki | 8 / 60
|
8 | Maoist Centre | In opposition | |
| Lumbini | 12 / 87
|
11 | Maoist Centre | Maoist government | |
| 1 | Unified Socialist | ||||
| Karnali | 14 / 40
|
13 | Maoist Centre | In coalition | |
| 1 | Unified Socialist | ||||
| Sudurpashchim | 15 / 54
|
11 | Maoist Centre | Unified Socialist government | |
| 4 | Unified Socialist | ||||
Leadership
editCo-ordinator
edit- Madhav Kumar Nepal (2023–2024)
- Netra Bikram Chand (2024–present)[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Socialist Frontcomprising four leftist parties announced". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "4 parties announce Samajbadi Morcha (Socialist Front) - OnlineKhabar English News". 2023-06-19. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "Four parties announce Socialist Front". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ Republica. "Parties affiliated to Socialist Front agree on six-month rotational leadership". My Republica. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "पार्टी संरचनाको अभ्यास गर्दै समाजवादी मोर्चा". nepalkhabar (in Nepali). 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ "बागमती प्रदेशका मुख्यमन्त्रीसहित तीन मन्त्रीले लिए सपथ". Naya Patrika (in Nepali). 10 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ^ "Unified Socialist's Sodari appointed Sudurpaschim chief minister". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
- ^ "Biplav appointed Socialist Front coordinator". The Annapurna Express (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-07-16.