CPN Chairman Prachanda Dismisses 'New vs. Old' Narrative in Elections, Predicts No Single Party Majority

Kathmandu. Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), stated that the narrative distinguishing between new and old parties or leaders in the elections is flawed. Responding to journalists after casting his vote, he also claimed that no single party would secure a clear majority in the elections.

Prachanda asserted that the current discourse in the market about 'new versus old' is not in the interest of the nation and democracy. He emphasized the need to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong, rather than focusing on new or old. He appealed to all voters to vote for the leadership that has the right ideology and program based on who stands for the nation, the people, democracy, and progress. He maintained that the election debate should only be between right and wrong.

When asked by journalists about the election results, he clarified that given the current electoral system and overall situation, he does not foresee the possibility of any single party achieving a majority. He stated that the main competition this time would be among four parties: the CPN, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Rastriya Swatantra Party. However, he claimed that his own party's results would be good.

Prachanda, who is a candidate from Rukum East, mentioned that although there was an uneasy situation initially where elections might not happen, the elections are succeeding due to the firm stance of the party under his leadership. He clarified that this election is not just ordinary but holds extraordinary significance for starting the journey toward national stability and prosperity. 

Stating that their emphasis has always been on peaceful, fraud-free, and impartial elections, he urged the general voters to participate enthusiastically and actively in the voting process. He noted that the higher the public participation, the better the results for stability.