Leaders Dismiss Rumors of CPN-UML and CPN Unification as Baseless

Kathmandu. For the past few days, there has been widespread discussion and debate on social media and among party cadres regarding a potential unification between the CPN-UML and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN).

However, leaders from both the CPN-UML and the CPN have expressed ignorance regarding these rumors. Some leaders have even questioned the necessity and justification of such a merger, describing the calls for unity as irrelevant attempts that distract from the urgent need for internal reflection, deliberation, and reform.

From CPN-UML leader Pradeep Gyawali to Vice-Chairman Bishnu Paudel, questions have been raised about who is fueling these irrelevant discussions of leftist unity from behind the scenes and why.

'A serious review of the concerning defeat in the election and the reorganization of the party is the primary agenda for the CPN (UML) today,' Vice-Chairman Paudel questioned on social media. 'Who is fueling these irrelevant discussions of leftist unity from behind the scenes, and why are they trying to divert attention from this reality?'

Leader Pradeep Gyawali, who is also a former minister, expressed ignorance, stating that no institutional decision has been made and that the discussion of 'leftist unity' seems to have started in the media.

'First of all, today's challenge is not limited to the scope of the leftist or communist movement,' says Gyawali. 'Therefore, the crisis must be viewed on a broader canvas, and policies must be adopted accordingly.'

In such a situation, Gyawali emphasizes that the first step should be to realize the gravity of the crisis and initiate a formal process of ruthless self-review and comprehensive reform/reorganization.

'Meaningful discourse and thematic cooperation can only have value once we have recovered ourselves,' Gyawali said regarding the unity rumors. 'Otherwise, such discussions are either limited to intellectual luxury or transformed into maneuvers to shift internal problems to the neighborhood. The current need is to look within, deliberate, and reform.'

After the election on Falgun 21, the previously large communist parties, CPN-UML and CPN, have shrunk into smaller parties.

Since the election results gave the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) nearly two-thirds of the votes, the Congress, along with the UML and CPN, have moved to the opposition side since Chaitra 13, while the RSP is running a single-majority government.

Looking at the recent electoral mandate, it appears that Nepal's communist parties will have to work hard to ensure their survival in the upcoming local elections next year.

In the 275-member House of Representatives, the UML is currently the third-largest party and the CPN the fourth. Having spent a long time in government and power, neither communist party appears likely to move away from the role of the opposition in parliament for the next five years.

The latest election results have sent a message that they must play the role of a constructive opposition, transform themselves, and work harder to win public trust. In line with this message, debates on serious review and transformation are ongoing within both the UML and CPN. In this context, some second and third-tier leaders of both parties are raising voices for unity for the sake of survival, while others are labeling these voices as 'untimely music'.

Amidst this, the meeting between former CPN-UML Vice-Chair and former President Bidya Devi Bhandari and UML leaders has also encouraged proponents of party unity.

However, some are discussing it as if the two parties are about to merge immediately, claiming they are engaged in discussions for cooperation and unity.

Former CPN-UML Vice-Chair Surendra Pandey hinted at this a few days ago.

Pandey stated that while the race among leaders for leftist unity has begun, unity without clear ideas and a definite destination, rather than for individuals, will ultimately only diminish the party's values and principles.

Although there are rumors of dialogue between CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, Vice-Chair Prithivi Subba Gurung, Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatta, and CPN leaders Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Barshaman Pun regarding unity and cooperation, the leaders said to be involved have flatly denied it.

While some say the Falgun 21 House of Representatives election results have created a psychology leading towards leftist cooperation and eventually unity, responsible leaders from both parties told Ratopati in formal conversations that there is no such possibility at the moment.

CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Lekhraj Bhatta claims that although leaders meet and talk, such meetings are not at the level of party unity or cooperation.

'It is nothing new for leaders to meet, discuss, and converse occasionally,' Deputy General Secretary Bhatta told Ratopati. 'We are old acquaintances. When leaders who have worked together for 40 years meet, it is being misinterpreted. Therefore, I urge you to understand that those meetings and discussions are only for formality, not for cooperation or party unity.'

Leader Bhatta also mentioned that some people might have misinterpreted leaders sitting down for tea and engaged in wrong propaganda.

Bhatta says that since the CPN-UML has not even reviewed the election, and the Chairman has been spending time in mourning, detention, or the hospital since the election, raising the topic of party unity is like playing music out of season.

'The Chairman was in the hospital and was only discharged on Saturday evening. Once he is discharged and healthy, the party meeting will be held. A policy will be formulated,' he said. 'Every party runs on policy, whether they are communists or democrats.'

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was in mourning for his father immediately after the Falgun 21 election. Shortly after coming out of mourning, Oli was arrested by the police on Chaitra 14. A few days after being released from custody 14 days later, Oli underwent gallbladder surgery and was discharged from the hospital on Saturday.

On the other hand, the UML has not even completed its election review. Leaders say that after Oli is discharged from the hospital, the secretariat and central committee meetings will be held, and the party will formulate policies based on a concrete analysis of the election results.

After Oli's surgery, CPN leaders Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Narayan Kaji Shrestha visited him at the TU Teaching Hospital. CPN leader Shrestha says that some people may have speculated about unity based on that visit.

'Since he was ill, I and our coordinator Prachanda went to visit him in the hospital separately. Some people might be spreading rumors based on that,' Shrestha explains.

When asked if the election results have led to a situation where the two parties must unite, Shrestha said, 'Unity between the UML and CPN is not that easy and will not happen.'

He clarified that although leaders of the two parties meet occasionally, it is not according to the context and purpose of party unity. 'There has been no formal or informal discussion or dialogue on the agenda of party unity or cooperation,' Shrestha told Ratopati.

CPN-UML Vice-Chair Prithivi Subba Gurung also claimed that no discussion or dialogue has started with CPN leaders regarding party unity.

Instead, he said that only after the election review in the secretariat and central committee meetings will it be decided how to proceed.

'Many people understood that party unity was starting after CPN coordinator Prachanda went to visit our Chairman. But that is purely a matter related to health and human empathy,' says Vice-Chair Gurung.

CPN leader Dr. Beduram Bhusal says that the word 'unity' has not even been uttered anywhere between the two parties. Leader Bhusal informed party leaders that there was no discussion about party unity even during the meeting between coordinator Prachanda and Chairman Oli at the hospital.

'Coordinator Prachanda said that nothing of that sort happened, and I only wished him a speedy recovery during the visit. He spoke one sentence, and nothing more happened,' Bhusal told Ratopati, quoting Prachanda.