Prominent Leader in Dailekh Sets Record by Joining Same Party for Fourth Time

Surkhet. A major leader from Dailekh has set a record by joining the same political party four times. Tarkabahadur Shahi, a central member of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), has once again joined the CPN-UML. It is reported that UML Secretary and Karnali Chief Minister Yamalal Kandel welcomed Shahi into the party on Wednesday.

Shahi was once involved in the politics of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP). In the early 2050s BS, he joined the UML after being with the Congress. Following that, when the UML split, he moved to the CPN-ML. Shahi, who rejoined the UML in between, moved to the CPN (Unified Socialist) led by Madhav Kumar Nepal after the UML split in 078 BS.

After that, he rejoined the UML around the time of the 079 local level elections. In Kartik of 080 BS, when Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' was the Prime Minister, he joined the Maoist party after visiting the Prime Minister's Office.

The Maoist party currently exists under the name Communist Party of Nepal. He was a central member from Dailekh in that party.

"He wanted to contest the House of Representatives election in Dailekh-2 on Falgun 21," said one leader, "but his consistently unstable politics does not have much impact on the people; he has no followers."

After being displeased that the party did not give him the ticket, he joined the UML for the fourth time on Wednesday.

Shahi, known as a warrior of the communist movement in Dailekh, brings his wife, Susmita Singh, with him when joining parties.

Singh was elected as the Vice-Chairperson of Thatikandh Rural Municipality from the UML in 074 BS. "He has no followers either; he only brings his wife along," said a UML leader from Dailekh. "He has returned to the UML for the fourth time after circling around; we hope he won't switch parties again."