Shram Sanskriti Party

Labor Culture Party
श्रम संस्कृति पार्टी
Śrama Saṃskṛti Pārṭī
AbbreviationSSP
ChairpersonHarka Sampang
General SecretaryAryan Rai
SpokespersonArun Gurung
FounderHarka Sampang
Founded28 September 2025 (2025-09-28)
HeadquartersSukedhara, Kathmandu, Nepal
IdeologyLaborism
Environmentalism
Agrarianism
Colours  Brown
SloganJay Mato
Jay Shram Dan
ECN StatusNational Party (5th largest)
Seats in Pratinidhi Sabha
7 / 275
Seats in Rastriya Sabha
0 / 59
Seats in Provincial Assemblies
0 / 550
Mayors/Chairs
0 / 753
Councillors
1 / 35,011
Election symbol

Soil in Hands
Website
www.ssparty.org.np

The Shram Sanskriti Party (Nepali: श्रम संस्कृति पार्टी, lit. 'Labor Culture Party') is a political party in Nepal. The party was founded in 2025 by former mayor of Dharan Harka Sampang. The party won seven seats in the 2026 Nepalese general election and is the 5th largest party in Nepal.

History

Background and formation (2022–2025)

Harka Sampang was elected as mayor of Dharan as an independent in 2022, with a "working man" image and a platform of anti-corruption, public participation, and expanding access to drinking water.[1][2] Under his mayoralty, Sampang gained popularity for organizing public work programmes in Dharan.[2][3]

The party was formed following the Gen Z protests.[4] It registered with the Election Commission of Nepal under the name Shram Sanskriti Party (SSP) on 28 September 2025.[5][6]

2026 general election

During the 2026 general election campaign, the party cleaned streets while canvassing.[4] It won three direct seats in Eastern Nepal and four proportional seats in the election.[5][7][8]

Name and symbols

The party's name, Shram Sanskriti (Nepali: श्रम संस्कृति, lit. 'Labor Culture'), is based on the party's stated focus on public service.[1] Its official symbol is two hands holding a mound of soil (Nepali: हातमा माटो).[4]

Political positions

The party's ideology is based on "Harkabaad", a political philosophy influenced by Sampang's personal leadership style and a focus on local development and civic mobilization.[2]

Economic issues

The party supports shifting from a "city-centric" development model that favors Kathmandu to a "village-centric" model focusing development of sustainable industries in rural areas.[2][9] It supports transitioning into an export-based economy through national economic 5 year plans.[10]

The party supports a governance with a directly elected president with a five-year term and a maximum of two terms.[9][11]

Social issues

The party supports recognizing all indigenous languages in Nepal as national languages, allowing them to be used in education and government.[9] It supports universal suffrage.[9] It supports a secular state and does not endorse any religion.[2][9] It has proposed an educational system with a three day school week and a greater focus on practical knowledge.[10][9]

Structure

The party is headquartered in Kathmandu and operates under a five member central office bearer and a 23 member committee.[1]

As of November 2025, the party's chairman is Harka Sampang, its general secretary is Aryan Rai, its treasurer is Samita Rai, and its spokesperson is Arun Gurung.[12][13]

Demographics

During the 2026 elections, 35 of 109 candidates from the party were under the age of 40.[14][15]

Electoral performance

Federal parliament

Election Leader Constituency Votes Proportional Votes Seats Position Resulting government
No. % No. % No.
2026 Harka Sampang 303,902 2.89 385,856 3.56
7 / 275
 5th

Leadership

Chairman

References

  1. ^ a b c राई, एलिना (5 December 2025). "Hark Sampang: From Independent City Mayor to Labor Culture Party Chairman". eKantipur. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ghimire, Pratik (2025-12-18). "Personality trumped ideology in new party surge". The Annapurna Express. Archived from the original on December 18, 2025. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  3. ^ Adhikari, Raju (Nov 14, 2025). "Harka Sampang preparing to step down as mayor and contest election from UML stronghold". Setopati. Archived from the original on December 5, 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  4. ^ a b c Pokharel, Gaurav (18 January 2026). "Dharan rallies to Harka Sampang's beat as rivals stay quiet". The Kathmandu Post. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Harka's Shram Sanskriti Party emerges as new national force". Khabarhub. 12 March 2026. Archived from the original on 13 Mar 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  6. ^ "Harka Sampang registers new party 'Shram Sanskriti Party' at EC". Republica. September 28, 2025. Archived from the original on October 6, 2025. Retrieved 2025-10-06.
  7. ^ "Shram Sanskriti Party wins three direct seats, emerges as surprise force of election". The Himalayan Times. 2026-03-08. Archived from the original on March 8, 2026. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  8. ^ सावद, केशव (March 2026). पूर्वमा उर्वर ‘माटो’ [Fertile 'soil' in the east]. Online Khabar (in Nepali). Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Shram Sanskriti Party's initial commitments made public". The Rising Nepal. 2025-12-03. Archived from the original on December 8, 2025. Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  10. ^ a b राई, एलिना (2025-12-02). "The basic principle of the Labor Culture Party is 'Harkism', teaching only 3 days a week". eKantipur. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  11. ^ हर्क साम्पाङको पार्टीको मूल सिद्धान्त ‘हर्कवाद’ [The basic principle of Hark Sampang's party is 'Harkism'.]. Online Khabar (in Nepali). December 2025. Archived from the original on December 2, 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  12. ^ हर्क साम्पाङ नेतृत्वको पार्टीले आधिकारिकता पाउँदै, पदाधिकारीमा को-को ? [Hark Sampang-led party gains official recognition; who are the office-bearers?]. Online Khabar (in Nepali). November 2025. Archived from the original on November 2, 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  13. ^ राई, एलिना (2025-12-22). श्रम संस्कृति पार्टीका उपाध्यक्ष परियार निलम्बित [Pariyar, vice-chairman of Shram Sanskriti Party, suspended]. Ekantipur (in Nepali). Archived from the original on December 22, 2025. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  14. ^ "52 percent of voters are young, 31 percent of candidates are young". eKantipur. 25 January 2026. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  15. ^ "Minorities and marginalized groups are once again being ignored in candidacies". eKantipur. 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
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