Local by-elections result encouraging: Maoist Center

Kathmandu, December 5 — The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) has concluded that the results of the recent local by-elections have been encouraging, and this outcome has laid the foundation for contesting future elections independently.

This conclusion was drawn during a meeting of the office-bearers' at Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’s residence in Khumaltar today.

Spokesperson Agniprasad Sapkota stated, "The initial review of the local by-elections was discussed in today’s meeting. The results, in terms of both the number of seats won and popular vote, have been deemed encouraging. This has established the basis for contesting the upcoming elections with our own agenda and identity."

The party has taken pride in retaining the Rukum Purba's Putha Uttarganga and Humla's Sarkegad rural municipalities, and also making gains in other areas, including securing second place in terms of popular votes.

The Maoist Centre sees this as an achievement, particularly in places like Putha Uttarganga where, despite a coalition of all parties, they won by a large margin and remained unopposed in some wards.

The party also triumphed in places such as Jajarkot’s Nalagad Municipality, Morang’s Gramthan Rural Municipality, Nuwakot, Udaypur, Gorkha, Dhanusha, and Dolpa’s wards with significant margins.

Sapkota explained that, although they came second in Kathmandu's Kirtipur Municipality, the public and party workers alike treated it as a victory.

He added, "In the past, we may have had shortcomings in building a closer relationship with the people, but both the party and the public are now in sync. Our party has started a campaign to reconnect with the people, and the public has begun to realize that it is the Maoist party working in their favor."

The spokesperson further highlighted that the success in the by-elections is also a result of unified efforts from the party headquarters, standing committee, and nationwide consultation meetings.

The meeting also discussed making the party's municipal and local-level meetings more effective, with central leaders assigned to coordinate these meetings.

While discussing current affairs, the meeting concluded that the government’s effectiveness is at a standstill.

However, the Maoist Centre remains steadfast in its decision not to push for a government change, as reaffirmed by the spokesperson: "Our chairman has clearly stated that we will not push for a government change, and we want the current government to continue until 2027, as it is. This stance is to prevent further instability caused by anarchist forces, who might use the government’s weaknesses as an opportunity."

The Maoist Centre also expressed its strong opposition to the government’s interference in the Nepal Electricity Authority, noting unprecedented actions by the government ministers, which hindered the Authority’s work.

Sapkota stated, "Our party will strongly oppose such interference, as the government seems to be shielding middlemen and corrupt individuals, which we will systematically challenge."

The party plans to continue discussions in upcoming standing committee and central committee meetings, where more strategic decisions will be made.