The Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSP-Nepal) led by Upendra Yadav and Mahantha Thakur’s Loktantrik Samajbadi Party have reached an agreement to reunify the two parties.

A joint meeting of the office bearers from the two parties took the decision on Sunday.

“After analysing the country’s current political situation, and realising the need to build a just society by institutionalising the federal democratic republican system and strengthening the issues of progressive change—such as federalism, proportional inclusion, and social justice—a decision has been made to unify the Janata Samajwadi Party and the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal,” states a joint press release issued by JSP-Nepal Chairperson Upendra Yadav and LSP Chairperson Mahantha Thakur.

They, however, have yet to finalise the name of the unified party, its election symbol and organisational structure.

“We have agreed to unite the parties, contest on a common election symbol, and finalise the candidates in consensus,” LSP leader Jitendra Sonal said. “The remaining issues will be decided soon.”

Yadav and Thakur, who had parted ways in 2021, have joined hands again just ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5.

In August 2021, Thakur split the Janata Samajbadi Party and registered Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (Loktantrik).

Thakur’s Rastriya Janata Party had earlier merged with Upendra Yadav’s Sanghiya Samajbadi Party in April 2020.