Maoists opt for coalition policy in local level by-elections!

Kathmandu, October 8 — The main opposition party, Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre), has adopted a strategy of forging electoral alliances for the upcoming local level by-elections. Although the party is claiming to contest the by-elections scheduled for December 1 independently, it has left the door open for collaboration.

To clarify this, the Maoist Centre has sent a circular to its subordinate committees. According to one party leader, a 'special notice' regarding the local level by-elections was issued from the central office on Monday.

The circular indicates that the party will prepare to contest the elections independently but will continue to pursue collaboration with other parties. However, the Maoist Centre has decided not to collaborate with ruling parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.

“The party will prepare to contest the local level by-elections scheduled for December 1 independently. However, we will also make efforts to advance coalition with leftist and patriotic parties other than the ruling ones,” the leader quoted from the internal circular while speaking to Ratopati.

The Maoist Centre's central committee meeting held last July decided not to form alliances in the upcoming general elections and to contest based on its own strength. Due to a disconnect with the public, the party resolved to create programs that reach down to the grassroots and ensure they connect with all citizens by the time of the elections, as stated by Vice Chairman and Spokesperson Agni Sapkota at that time. “We have decided to prepare to contest independently in the upcoming elections. Before that, we will convey our policies, ideas, and direction directly to the people. This is also a golden opportunity to connect with the public,” said Sapkota.

Recently, the party's chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), has also indicated in party programs that they will contest the elections independently. At an event organized by the Dolakha-Kathmandu Coordination Committee on October 6, Prachanda mentioned that his party would compete with single candidates at all levels in the by-elections and the 2027 general elections. He noted that the Maoist identity had weakened when they previously contested elections in alliance with the Congress and UML.

Now, the party has begun preparations to enter the elections as independent competitors, starting with the by-elections scheduled for December.

After arriving in his home district of Chitwan the next day, Prachanda reiterated the same message. At a press conference organized by the Press Centre Nepal Chitwan branch at Bharatpur Airport, Chairman Prachanda claimed that the Maoist Centre would contest the elections independently and win.

“Even after being removed from the position of Prime Minister, I have established a strong base among the people. Therefore, I am confident that we will contest and win independently, as I have seen while traveling across the country,” he said. Not only he, but other party leaders have also been echoing similar sentiments.

Chief Secretary of the party's central office, Shriram Dhakal, stated that the party would contest the elections alone. “Accordingly, we have also sent out our programs,” he said, adding, “If necessary, we can collaborate with opposition parties, but this is not what we would call an electoral alliance.”

Another Deputy General Secretary of the Maoist Centre remarked that it is natural to seek collaboration against the ruling parties once they are in the opposition. “If necessary, there can be cooperation and alliances with opposition parties. But our mission is to contest independently. However, forming a front against the ruling party is always natural,” he stated.

25 parties registered for by-elections

According to Election Commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Sapkota, 25 parties have been registered with the commission for the purpose of the local level by-elections. Among them, the Maoists can collaborate with the Unified Socialist Party, Janata Samajwadi Party, Aam Janata Party, and the Rashtriya Swotantra Party (RSP). This will be the first time RSP is participating in local elections.

Internal preparations before elections

Although the party has a policy of potential collaboration, it will first make all necessary internal preparations for the local elections. Accordingly, when selecting candidates for vacant ward chair positions for the by-elections, the party will gather ward party members to reach a consensus. If an agreement cannot be reached, candidates will be selected based on a majority system and recommended to the municipality committee, as mentioned in a circular from the Maoists.

Afterward, the party committee of the municipality will make the final decision, and the information must be submitted in writing to the provincial party office and the central party office by November 11, as stated in a circular signed by Chairman Prachanda and General Secretary Dev Gurung.

Similarly, when selecting candidates for the vacant positions of mayors, deputy mayors, chairpersons, and vice-chairpersons, a joint meeting will be held with representatives from all wards under the relevant municipality or rural municipality to select candidates based on consensus. After the selection, the information must be communicated to the party's central office by November 11, as directed to the subordinate committees.

For the position of district coordination committee chief, the party's district coordination committee will make a recommendation, which must then be decided by the provincial committee. This practice was also followed in previous elections before a formal decision was made for collaboration.

Additionally, the Maoists have decided to update the voter list in all wards for the by-elections, raise awareness among party-affiliated voters, establish election campaign committees in the wards and municipalities where the by-elections are to be held, and organize meetings such as public interactions, door-to-door visits, community gatherings, chautari assemblies, corner meetings, and other gatherings as necessary to facilitate the campaign.

Maoists embracing coalition since 2017

Since the elections of 2017, the Maoists have been forging electoral alliances. After suffering defeat in the second Constituent Assembly elections held in 2013, they joined the Left Alliance in 2017. At that time, they collaborated with the UML, and although there was a subsequent party unity, it later dissolved with the Supreme Court's decision. In 2017, the Maoists won 53 seats in the House of Representatives.

After breaking relations with the UML, the Maoists reached out to collaborate with the Congress, leading to several seats in local elections being shared with the Congress, and collaboration also continued in the general elections. Based on this alliance, the Maoists won 32 seats in the House of Representatives.

Now, with the changing political equations placing the UML and Congress together, the Maoists have found themselves in the opposition. Since then, Prachanda has been stating that they will go to the people and strengthen the party to contest independently, while still keeping the door open for collaboration. By-elections for various positions in 41 local levels are set to take place on December 1.