Veteran Communist Leaders: A Look at Mohan Bikram Singh, Mohan Baidya 'Kiran', and Mohan Chandra Adhikari's Stance on Elections

Kathmandu. Mohan Bikram Singh, General Secretary of the CPN (Masal), who contested the first general election in 2015 BS, was defeated. He has not participated in any parliamentary elections since then, having run in his home district of Pyuthan as a candidate for the then Communist Party of Nepal.

Singh, who joined the leftist movement during his adolescence, contested the parliamentary election at the age of 24 as per the party's decision. At that time, the CPN won only four out of 109 seats. The Nepali Congress won 74 seats, securing a two-thirds majority. The Nepal Praja Parishad became the second largest party by winning 19 seats. The United Democratic Party of Nepal came in third with five seats, while the CPN was the fourth largest party.

On Poush 1, 2017 BS, King Mahendra dismissed the popularly elected government led by B.P. Koirala and dissolved the House of Representatives. He seized power by banning political parties. A crisis began within the CPN after the CPN General Secretary Dr. Kesharjung Rayamajhi supported the King's move.

The CPN split during its third general convention in 2019 BS. At a time when the party was facing an existential crisis due to numerous splits and divisions, Singh took the initiative around 2028 BS to unite all leftist factions. However, after all efforts failed, he organized the fourth general convention of the party under his own leadership in 2031 BS. He was elected as the General Secretary at that convention.

The current CPN-UML did not recognize that convention. Chitrabahadur KC, Chairman of the Rastriya Janamorcha, states that Singh has not participated in any election since becoming General Secretary, adhering to the policy of the main leadership not to participate in elections.

“He contested the 2015 election from Pyuthan, but he was not victorious. After becoming General Secretary, he did not participate in any election. He refrained from participating in elections according to the party's policy that the main leadership would not contest elections,” he said.

KC asserted that there are currently no communists in Nepal. He claimed that the ongoing election is motivated by American interests.

KC stated, “This election is being orchestrated by America. To be clear, it is being orchestrated by the CIA. It appears the country will face further disaster after Falgun 21.”

Singh, a stalwart of the Nepali communist movement who is 91 years old, remains the General Secretary of the CPN (Masal). Although he himself does not contest elections, the Rastriya Janamorcha, which has been the open front of the party since 2048 BS, has been participating in every election. In 2079 BS, Janamorcha formed an electoral alliance with the Communist Party of Nepal in the Baglung-1 constituency, which KC won. Singh is currently touring districts for election campaigning.

Born into a prominent family during the Rana regime, Singh rebelled and joined leftist politics from his adolescence. Due to his affection for Jaljala, he was expelled from the party for three years in 2033 BS from the positions of General Secretary, Central Committee member, and ordinary member. In 2041 BS, he faced further disciplinary action for allegedly violating party discipline, leading to a split in the party. One faction was led by Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’. Singh formed a separate party under his own leadership.

Singh has shown strength in literature writing and study, besides politics, since childhood. Although he created much literature during his underground period, it could not be published. Last year, Singh published a massive novel named after his beloved Jaljala. Stating that he will not rest from active politics until his body allows, he continues to participate in party programs both domestically and internationally.

Another luminary of the communist movement, Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’, has never participated in parliamentary elections. Kiran, a struggling individual, retired from active politics towards the end of Ashoj due to age and ill health. He is known as a modest, simple-living, and staunch Marxist thinker. He was elected General Secretary at the convention held in Mangsir last year. Kiran, who is over 79 years old, fell seriously ill while visiting his home district Dang following the death of his mother, Janki Devi Upadhyay, on Baisakh 24. Suffering from asthma and pneumonia, he was hospitalized for 22 days in Jestha. Hukam Singh, a leader of the CPN (Revolutionary), informed that Kiran is currently resting at home and his health is stable. According to Singh, apart from being a Constituent Assembly member in 2064 BS, Kiran has not participated in any election.

“To my knowledge, he has not participated in any election. His belief is that revolutionary communists should not participate in parliamentary elections as they belong to the bourgeoisie. Following this policy, we have boycotted every election since 2070 BS,” he said.

Singh also claimed that the current election is being held in the interest of America, following a policy to encircle China, and will not yield any solution. KC of the Janamorcha informed that Kiran, whose ancestral home is in Pyuthan, has not participated in any election.

“Mohan Baidya has been following a policy of boycotting elections for a long time. When they state that the current system and constitution are unnecessary, their stance is clear. To my knowledge, he has not participated in a single election,” KC said.

Kiran, the main planner of the People's War declared by the CPN (Maoist) in 2052 BS, entered peaceful politics after the establishment of the republic following the People's Movement of 2062/063 BS. The main leader of the People's War was Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. Kiran acted as Prachanda's mentor, chief advisor, and director of the overall war. Although he was a Constituent Assembly member from the Maoists, he resigned from his post within 8 months. Concluding that the leadership failed to establish a people's democratic state, Kiran split the party in Ashar 2079 BS and reorganized the revolutionary party under his own leadership.

Another prominent figure in the leftist movement, Mohan Chandra Adhikari, participated in the 2048 BS election. He contested as a candidate for the CPN (UML) in Morang-6 but was defeated. Adhikari, who wanted to contest from Morang-2, was forced to choose another constituency after the party denied him the ticket. He alleged that the party leadership was responsible for his defeat in the election.

“I contested the 2048 BS election from Morang-6, although I had worked in Morang-2 at that time, but the party did not give me the ticket for that constituency. I have not participated in any election since then,” he said. “Parliamentary elections belong to the bourgeoisie. Those with ample money win elections. Farmers, laborers, and workers cannot compete in the elections.”

Adhikari, who is resting at home, says that this election is different from the past. However, he indicated that CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli might win from Jhapa-5. Adhikari also accused Oli of being the reason for his expulsion from the party.

“KP Oli currently has plenty of money. It seems he will win the election by using all means, but even if Oli wins, the party seems to be losing. I was removed under Oli's plan at the age of 60, being called old and incapable of working, but now they haven't left the party even at 70 or 80 years old,” Adhikari said.

Adhikari, one of the main fighters of the famous ‘Jhapa Rebellion’ of 2028 BS, was arrested with Oli from Rautahat in 2030 BS. Oli was released in 2044 BS after spending 14 years in jail, while Adhikari was released only in 2046 BS. Adhikari, often referred to as Nepal's Nelson Mandela, is among the leaders deprived of political opportunities.

While there was a scramble within the communist party to seize leadership and reach the executive positions of the country, Singh, Kiran, and Adhikari spent their lives in the campaign to keep the Marxist policy, principles, and ideology alive. Among these three ‘Mohans’, the main figures of the Nepali communist movement, Kiran boycotted parliamentary elections. Singh and Adhikari participated in the competition only once but were unsuccessful.