Kathmandu, Nov. 24 -- 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 r...