Almost two months after parting ways with the UCPN (Maoist), Baburam Bhattarai officially announced his campaign to form a new political force on Sunday.

The campaign, Naya Shakti Abhiyan, was announced in presence of noted civil society members, Maoist leaders loyal to Bhattarai, and senior leaders of Madhes-based parties in Kathmandu.

Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav, human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar, writer Khagendra Sanghraula, and industrialist Ravi Bhaktra Shrestha, among others, attended the event.

 It is learnt that Bhattarai will be forging a working alliance with the Yadav-led SSFN to form his new party.

Extending their greetings for success of his campaign, Madhesi leaders pledged their support to Bhattarai.

 “We are fully aware about Baburamji’s ideology, his commitment to the nation, and the people,” Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur said.“We will extend our support to you.”

SSFN Nepal Chairman Yadav wished for the campaign’s success. He urged Bhattarai to take the initiative of resolving the ongoing political crisis. “Baburamji visited various parts of the country, including Janakpur, to test public pulse, and now he initiates a new campaign. I hope this will offer a breakthrough to the ongoing political situation,” he said.

Bhattarai said the campaign was based on an idea and it should not be seen as a one man’s vision.  

He said that he would play a constructive role to find a way out from the current political impasse. “I stand for addressing the demands raised by the agitating parties, and institutionalisation of democracy,” Bhattarai said.

Bhattarai, one of the chief architects of the Maoist

insurgency, was actively involved in constitution writing process. He defected from the party after the new constitution was promulgated in September, saying that the country needs a new political force in the changed circumstances.