Two faction of Sadbhavana Party unite

Kathmandu, June 9 (UNI) Two factions of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party have united with a view to consolidating democracy and the rights of the people of the Terai region, party leaders said.

The Nepal Sadbhana Party, which advocates for the rights of the Terai people, was divided in 2003 over the support of the King's rule by Badri Prasad Mandal, who became minister during the king's rule.

The Party struggled for the restoration of democracy and end of King's rule and was one of the components in the seven party alliance while the Mandal-led party supported King Gyanendra's dictatorial rule.

The new party will be named the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (A), and will go for a federal republic, the party leaders said.

The party decided to form a new committee under the chairpersonship of Ananddevi Singh, widow of founder of the party Gajendra Narayan Singh and will include leaders of both the factions.

'' The objective of unification is to push forward our demands in a more organised and systematic way,'' said Rajendra Mahato, minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and general secretary of the NSP(A).

He said the unified party would work to bring other agitating groups in the Terai region, including Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, to a peaceful process for the greater good of the Terai people.

Mr Karna, who replaced royalist Badri Mandal last year, said all leaders in his faction agreed to go for a republic government and agreed on the common policies of the reunited party.

Mr Mandal has been expelled from the party while vice chairman Bharat Bimal has protested the unification decision saying that the unification with people, who supported the King's rule, will defame the party in the future.

UNI