Prachanda claims election participation was forced by President Poudel

Kathmandu. Former Prime Minister and coordinator of the Nepal Communist Party, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', has insisted that the agenda of going to the polls was not his own.

Prachanda, who has been claiming to have saved the constitution through hard work during the Gen-Z movement in Bhadau, has changed his stance. While responding to questions from members during a central coordination committee meeting held at the central office in Parisdanda on Thursday, he corrected his previous statements.

During the meeting, the leadership was criticized for participating in the elections despite the lack of a favorable environment for the party following the Gen-Z movement. In the elections held on Falgun 21, the NCP won only 17 seats. Among the party's top leaders, only Prachanda and Barshaman Pun were victorious. Leader Devendra Poudel informed that while correcting his earlier remarks, Prachanda stated that he was forced into the election not because of himself, but because of President Ram Chandra Poudel.

'It was not our desire to go to the polls. The dissolution of parliament was not caused by us either. He said that we were forced to support it after the President proposed dissolving parliament and going to elections to find a way out of the crisis,' Poudel told Ratopati.

He further informed that during the meeting, Prachanda also shared his views on broad leftist unity along with party transformation. Poudel stated that Prachanda emphasized strengthening the party through a general convention before pursuing unity and polarization.

'In the current situation, broad leftist unity is necessary. For that, it is first necessary to strengthen the party along with its transformation. He expressed his views on the necessity of broad unity and polarization among all leftist forces,' said Poudel.

In the meeting, Prachanda stated that cooperation and a front among the supporters of the 12-point agreement are necessary. Co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal also supported Prachanda's view. He expressed the opinion that there should be no hasty decisions regarding the unity of leftist forces.

Poudel informed that the meeting was adjourned after the coordinator and co-coordinator shared their views. According to Poudel, the next meeting will be held on Saturday at 11 AM. He mentioned that the meeting will make decisions regarding the division of responsibilities among leaders and future programs.