CPN Leader Barshaman Pun Urges Party Ranks Not to Be Discouraged by Election Results

KAVREPALANCHOK. A leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN), Barshaman Pun Ananta, has appealed to the party ranks not to be disheartened by the failure to achieve expected results in the elections.

Speaking at a program to unveil a martyr's statue and honor martyr families organized on the occasion of the 28th Martyr Cultural Day in Anekot, Kavre, on Thursday, Pun stated that CPN will move forward after dusting itself off. He mentioned that they will re-evaluate ideology, politics, organization, leadership, style, and methods, and proceed according to the sentiments of the nation and the people. Asserting that CPN will reorganize itself according to public aspirations and the current needs of the country, Pun claimed that they would lead the nation again someday.

He admitted that even when they went to the elections with an agenda of transformation and good governance, the people voted for them by placing them in the category of the old political forces. ‘We were not, are not, and will never be in favor of the tendency to shoot at the young protestors who took to peaceful demonstration on Bhadra 23. Likewise, we were not, are not, and will never be in favor of those who committed vandalism, including setting fire to Singha Durbar on the 24th. But the people considered us to be of the old mold too. We are old, but not the same kind of old. We tried to change the situation. We will go to the people again,’ Pun said. ‘Instead of any arrogance, deviation, or despair, we must resolve to rise by dusting ourselves off in a new way, embracing the sacrifice of the martyrs. During the 10-year People's War, there were many major sacrifices, losses, and defeats. But the leadership did not give up. We did not give up. We must once again coolly re-evaluate our ideology, politics, organization, leadership, style, and methods, and we must move forward on the path according to the feelings of the nation and the people.’

He stated that the people, through the elections, expressed their mandate to the newly termed parties and cautioned the old parties and leadership to change their working style and methods. Pun clarified that the caution from the people should be taken as an opportunity given to correct themselves.

‘Those who have no ideology, politics, or history have now received nearly a two-thirds majority as a new party. The people have trusted them. We must accept the mandate of the people. On the other hand, we must take this as a good opportunity given by the people to correct ourselves,’ Pun said.

Recalling that Prachanda initiated the People's War with only 60 full-time cadres across the country at one time, he mentioned that many considered the claim of bringing change through the People's War as foolishness, but it was that very People's War that achieved accomplishments such as a republic, federalism, inclusivity, and secularism. He appealed to everyone to engage in building a party that will transform and lead the country again, noting that the People's War, started by 60 people, was supported by thousands of farmers, laborers, intellectuals, and the general public to take on a large scale.

Pun claimed that the then government under the leadership of their coordinator Prachanda ran a strong good governance campaign against corruption for 18 months, and the youth movement on Bhadra 23 agitated by taking up that same campaign. He mentioned that the incidents of Bhadra 23 and 24 occurred because the government formed by the Congress and UML, which came to power after overthrowing the Prachanda-led government, did not heed repeated warnings against their misgovernance. ‘It was not a situation where we were unaware of where the country was heading and where the people were heading,’ Pun said. ‘We warned the then ruling parties through the streets and parliament that an explosion like in Bangladesh was imminent. But there was no heed. The public sentiment exploded in the form of a youth rebellion.’

Suggesting that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which received nearly a two-thirds mandate through the elections, should focus on the campaign for good governance, equality, and employment, and on strengthening the nation's existence and independence through balanced diplomatic relations, Pun committed their cooperation in those efforts.