KATHMANDU, Aug 21: Naya Shakti Party (NSP) leaders Ram Chandra Jha and Ram Kumar Sharma have joined CPN (Maoist Center). Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal welcomed Jha along with few other Madhesi leaders amid a special function organized in the capital on Sunday. 

Jha, a close confidante of NSP Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai, was expelled from the party following media reports that he was planning to return to the Maoist party.  Jha was with the Maoist Center before he defected the party to join NSP last year. 

Jha is the latest in a long list of leaders leaving the Bhattarai-led NSP. The defection started after NSP's dismal performance in the first and second phase of local elections.  NSP leaders said that Maoist Center's strong performance in the civic polls also tempted many to return to the 'mother party'. 

Bhattarai's reluctance to merge with Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum Nepal had also irked many leaders. 

Several other leaders including Devendra Poudel and Pasang Sherpa have also joined CPN Maoist Center.

 
• naya shakti party
 
• cpn (maoist center)
 
• ram chandra jha