The Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal (Nepali: संघीय समाजवादी फोरम, नेपाल; abbreviated FSFN) was a democratic socialist political party in Nepal. The party came into being on 15 June 2015 with the merger of the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal, the Federal Socialist Party Nepal and the Khas Samabeshi Party.[1] On 6 May 2019, the party merged with Naya Shakti Party, Nepal to form Samajbadi Party, Nepal.[2]
Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal संघीय समाजवादी फोरम, नेपाल | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | FSFN |
| Chairperson | Upendra Yadav Rajendra Prasad Shrestha |
| General Secretary | Ram Sahay Yadav |
| Founded | 15 June 2015 |
| Dissolved | 6 May 2019 |
| Merger of | Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal Federal Socialist Party Nepal Khas Samabeshi Party |
| Succeeded by | Samajbadi Party, Nepal |
| Headquarters | Tinkune, Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Youth wing | Federal Youth Union |
| Student Wing | Socialist Student's Forum |
| Women's Wing | Federal Socialist Women's Forum |
| Teacher's Wing | Federal Nepal Teachers' Union |
| Ideology | Democratic socialism Secularism Progressivism Ethnic federalism |
| Political position | Centre-left to Left-wing |
| Election symbol | |
 | |
| Party flag | |
 | |
| Website | |
| federalsocialist | |
History
editFoundation
editOn 14 June 2015 the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal, the Federal Socialist Party Nepal and the Khas Samabeshi Party announced that they were to merge on 15 June 2015 to intensify their efforts to revive the fast “fading” Madhesi and Janajati movement in the country.[3] The party was formed with Upendra Yadav and Rajendra Shrestha as co-chairs and Ashok Rai as the parliamentary party leader.[4] The new party had a total strength of 15 in the Constituent Assembly of Nepal following the merger (10 from MJF-N and 5 from FSPN).[5]
On 19 June 2017, Sarita Giri-led Nepal Sadbhawana Party decided to merge with the party.[6]
Local elections
editOn 27 February, the party announced that it would be participating in the first phase of the local elections to be held on May 14,[7] going back on their previous decision to not participate until the constitution was amended.[8] They also announced an alliance with Naya Shakti Party, Nepal led by former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, announcing that they would field common candidates and share the same electoral symbol in the upcoming elections.[9][10] Following this decision party co-chair Upendra Yadav was removed as head of the Federal Alliance and the party was removed from the alliance.[11] The party did not win any seats in the first of the local elections. In the second phase of the election however, 382 candidates from the party were elected, including 8 in mayoral posts.[12]
The party broke its alliance with Naya Shakti before the third phase of the elections after failing to merge the two parties.[13] 1,057 candidates from the party were elected, the party won in 26 mayoral posts including a win in Birgunj.[14]
Legislative and provincial elections
editThe party announced an alliance with Rastriya Janata Party, Nepal before the elections.[15] The party won 16 seats to the House of Representatives and finished with the fifth highest vote count in proportional representation.[16] The party was one of five parties to be declared "national parties".[17]
In the provincial assembly elections, the party won 3 seats in Province No. 1, 29 seats in Province No. 2 and 5 seats in Lumbini Province.[18][19] Following the election, FSFN and Rastriya Janata Party announced that they would form a coalition government in Province No. 2, with FSFN getting the post of Chief Minister and RJPN getting the post of Speaker.[20][21] Mohammad Lalbabu Raut who was parliamentary party leader in the provincial assembly was appointed as the Chief Minister of Province No. 2.[22][23][24]
Ideology
edit
The party in its manifesto has expressed support for identity-based federalism and socialism. The party has stated that it would also end discrimination and suffering based on ethnicity, language, gender and regional status. The manifesto also reads that the party was formed in view of the need for an alternate national force to implement the progressive agendas including rights of ethnic groups, identity, federalism, republic, secularism, inclusive democracy, autonomy, good governance, proportional system, and social justice and security.[25]
Electoral performance
edit| Election | Leader | Votes | Seats | Position | Resulting government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Upendra Yadav | 470,201 | 4.93 | 16 / 275
|
5th | CPN (UML)-CPN (Maoist Centre) |
Presence in various provinces
edit| Province | Seats | Year of election |
|---|---|---|
| Province No. 1 | 3 / 93
|
2017 |
| Province No. 2 | 29 / 107
| |
| Lumbini Province | 5 / 87
|
Leadership
editChairmen of Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal
edit- Upendra Yadav (2015-2019)
List of chief ministers
editProvince No. 2
edit| Name | Portrait | Terms in office |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Lalbabu Raut | 
|
2018–present |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Three parties merge to become Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal". Ekantipur. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Forum, Naya Shakti unify to form Samajwadi Party". OnlineKhabar English. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- ^ "3 parties to announce merger today". Ekantipur. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav - The Himalayan Times". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
- ^ "Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal Party announces elections manifesto". The Himalayan Times. 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
- ^ "Sarita Giri-led NSP merges with SSFN". Ekantipur. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "CPN-UML, FSF-Nepal registered at EC for local polls". THT Online. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "FSFN to contest polls; RJP to await amendment". Nagarik News. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Naya Shakti, FSFN to field consensus candidates". Nagarik News. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Forum, Naya Shakti form alliance; to contest local polls with common symbol". Online Khabar. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
- ^ "Upendra Yadav 'purged', Mahantha Thakur made coordinator". THT Online. Retrieved 4 June 2017./
- ^ "Results for second round of poll announced in all local levels". The Himalayan Times. 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "After failure in unification bid, Naya Shakti-Forum election alliance in limbo – OnlineKhabar". english.onlinekhabar.com. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "FSF-N wins mayor and NC deputy mayor in Birgunj". The Himalayan Times. 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "FSFN, RJPN sign poll alliance deal in Province 2". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "PR vote counting concludes". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "Only five parties crossed the threshold margin in PR votes - People's Review". People's Review. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "EC allots proportional seats of provincial vote". Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "UML, NC and Maoists win 75, 72 and 35 provincial assembly PR seats". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "FSF-N and RJP-N agree to form coalition government in Province 2". The Himalayan Times. 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
- ^ "Province 2: Chief Minister to FSFN, Speaker to RJPN". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Lalbabu Raut appointed as Chief Minister of Province-2". My Republica. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Lalbabu Raut to be sworn in Province 2 CM today". The Himalayan Times. 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2018-03-26.
- ^ "Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal". The Himalayan Times. 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
- ^ "Federal Socialist Forum Nepal makes party manifesto public". Setopati. Retrieved 4 June 2017.[permanent dead link]