Former minister Dhundi Raj Shastri, expelled from the Nepali Congress, has been appointed the president of the Democratic Socialism Forum. The Forum encompasses persons formerly associated with the Nepali Congress and the Nepali Congress (Democratic).

Chabi Prasad Debkota is vice-president, Keshab Marahatta is secretary while Anar Singh Karki is spokesman. Keshab Bahadur Chand, Bijaya Kunwar, Mahesh Kormacha, Janak Bahadur Shah, Surya Subedi, Himlal Gyawali, Sitaram Niraula and Ram Prasad Ghimere are members.

Minister Badri Narayan Basnet, former minister Jagannath Acharya, Mani Lama, Anup Kumar Singh and Harendra Bahadur Shrestha are advisors.

“All persons having faith in democracy and monarchy have been included in the Forum where anyone can express views fearlessly,” Minister Basnet told a gathering Saturday. Basnet said the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML are challenging the government as they did not get ministerial berths.

“As there was no unity among the so-called major political parties and they could not join the council of ministers constituted on October 11, they started protesting. “They protested because they could not get cabinet berths and it was not in their interest and not because of principle,” Basnet said.

Nepali Congress previously split in June this year between camps led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and Girija Prasad Koirala; three senior members have resigned from the CPN-UML.

The Royal move of October 4, when King Gyanendra assumed executive powers and dismissed the government of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, has split political parties with some threatening street protests.