Supreme Court favors Upendra Yadav in JSP-N split case

Nepal's Supreme Court has delivered a significant verdict in the political arena, ruling in favor of Upendra Yadav in the contentious dispute over the split of the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP)-Nepal. The court invalidated the Election Commission's earlier decision to register a new party formed by a faction led by Ashok Rai, declaring it unlawful.

A full bench of justices, including Kumar Regmi, Mahesh Sharma Paudel, and Shreekanta Paudel, issued the order on Thursday, affirming that the Yadav-led JSP-Nepal is the legitimate political entity. This decision stems from a dispute that began in May 2024 when Rai, then chair of the party's federal council, sought to register a new party under the name Janata Samajbadi Party. The Election Commission had initially approved this move, citing relevant acts and regulations.

The split within JSP-N was fueled by long-standing dissatisfaction with Yadav's leadership, leading a significant portion of the party's lawmakers and central committee members to back the formation of a separate party. Yadav challenged the Election Commission's decision at the Supreme Court, arguing that registering a new party based on an application from leaders who had already departed JSP-N was legally unsound.

The Supreme Court's judgment upholds Yadav's claim, concluding that the Election Commission acted improperly in registering the application submitted by the Rai faction for a party division. While the full text of the verdict is still pending release, the Election Commission is now mandated to make a new determination regarding the status of Ashok Rai and his followers in accordance with the court's ruling.