A new political force, the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, was announced on Sunday by merging various groups led by former Maoist Centre deputy general secretary Janardan Sharma, Durga Sob of the Nepal Samajwadi Party (Naya Shakti) and former Rastriya Swatantra Party chief whip Santosh Pariyar.

The party aims to bring together “progressive, patriotic and socialist” groups under a non-communist banner.

As per the announcement made on Sunday, former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai, who earlier headed the Naya Shakti party and later joined several other parties and groups, will serve as the party’s patron. The draft statute envisions a collective leadership that is inclusive of youths and women.

The party, which is registered with the Election Commission under Durga Sob’s name, has chosen an eye as its election symbol.

Earlier, the leaders had agreed on November 14 to form a new party to include like-minded people to address the agenda raised by Gen Z groups and bring the country’s derailed politics on a right track.

At the announcement, Sharma criticised Maoist Centre’s leadership for failing to eliminate corruption and social oppression.

Pariyar highlighted the importance of developing political thought to reflect Nepali society, urging progressive forces to unite to safeguard the nation. Sob emphasised correcting past mistakes and promoting proportional representation for indigenous peoples, Dalits, women, and marginalised regions.

Sudan Kiranti pledged to implement the party’s manifesto in practice, calling it a “historic milestone” for addressing national and public concerns.

The newly formed party also announced a five-member presidium to run the party as per the principle of collective leadership. Ojashwi Bhattarai, Durga Sob, Santosh Pariyar, Sudan Kiranti, and Ashok Jaiswal are in the presidium.