Discussions on Leftist Party Unity Intensify Amidst Electoral Setbacks

Kathmandu. Discussions about unity between the major leftist parties CPN-UML and the Communist Party of Nepal are intensifying. Both these leftist parties suffered a severe defeat in the elections held last February. Discussions about party unity began after the defeat.

CPN leader Agni Prasad Sapkota says such discussions are only policy-level. He clarified that although unity among leftists is necessary, there is no immediate possibility.

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‘Informal discussions are ongoing at a policy and theoretical level. There has been no discussion for unity to happen immediately as rumored outside,’ Sapkota told Ratopati. ‘We are not in favor of unity driven by self-interest, we are in favor of qualitative unity. The party's policy decision is also that.’

Sapkota stated that the current time is for leftists to regain lost trust, strengthen internal unity, and build a strong party, only then will unity be long-lasting.

‘We must be able to assure the general cadres and the public that by learning from past mistakes, that accident will not be repeated in the future. I do not see lost trust being regained by simply uniting without gaining confidence about its justification and necessity. However, unity among leftists is inevitable,’ he said.

Even when 25 leftist factions united for the elections, they could not win even 25 seats, raising questions from all sides against the leadership of the CPN. After the party suffered a major setback in the elections, coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' called the first central coordination committee meeting on Chaitra 19. In the meeting, which lasted for nine consecutive days, there was a major debate regarding the review of the electoral defeat, leadership weaknesses, and the party's future programs.

The meeting held on Baishakh 15 decided to hold a unity general convention in the second week of Mangsir, along with the division of responsibilities for the leaders. However, the meeting appeared unsuccessful in resolving the dissatisfaction within the party.

Central Coordination Committee member Dr. Bhim Rawal has stopped attending the meeting after not being placed in the sixth priority. Senior leaders Jhalanath Khanal and Bamdev Gautam also do not appear satisfied with the division of responsibilities. Third-tier leaders who have demanded that at least 50 percent of youth should be included in all party committees are criticizing the leadership regarding the meeting's decisions. The meeting had made a policy decision to achieve broad unity and polarization among leftists.

Under the first point of the party's then action plan outline, the meeting decided to advance the process of party restructuring with ideological, theoretical, organizational, and cultural clarity for internal unity and to complete the unity through the general convention to be held in Mangsir.

Under the third point, it was decided to take initiatives for the restructuring and unified communist party building of the entire communist movement along with the process of party restructuring.

According to the official decision of the CPN, there seems to be no possibility of unity with the UML from Mangsir onwards. However, according to a leader close to Prachanda, UML Chairman KP Oli and Prachanda have been in frequent phone contact. But that leader insists that the two leaders have not met in person to talk.

‘It is not that the party leadership does not talk to the chairman of a national party. Prachanda is talking not only to Oli but to leaders of all parties. But there has been no direct meeting between Prachanda and Oli for unity,’ said that leader. ‘Informal policy discussions are ongoing among the leaders. No one has been sent by Prachanda or a negotiation team formed to talk to anyone.’

Spokesperson Prakash Jwala also stated that there is no possibility of party unity with the UML in the immediate future. He claimed that coordinator Prachanda has only spoken about policy matters regarding unity. ‘Informal phone conversations may have occurred at the leadership level. There has been no discussion about unity through direct meetings. This does not mean that unity among leftists will not happen. Our coordinator has spoken in accordance with the party's decision to unite the entire communist party,’ Jwala said.

On Jestha 2, while talking to journalists in Surkhet, the capital of Karnali Province, Prachanda had stated that the party had decided to restructure its own party and take it to a general convention to create a new party in terms of ideology, politics, and organization. He clarified that the party had made a policy decision on unity because the communist movement had suffered a major setback in the recent elections. Prachanda's statement was that the upcoming leftist unity must include the UML.

According to sources, senior CPN leaders Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Organization Department Chief Barshaman Pun are active in achieving broad leftist unity including the UML. They are engaged in phased discussions with UML leaders regarding the review of election results, the local level and provincial assembly elections to be held next year, and the issue of provincial power equations. However, neither side has reached a conclusion. Leaders do not seem confident of any concrete decision in favor of immediate unity as the UML itself is caught in internal disputes over the issue of leadership change.

‘Narayan Kaji and Barshaman are discussing the issue of uniting the UML and other leftist forces, but no concrete decision has been made,’ the source said. ‘Disputes are increasing within both parties. Especially within the UML, internal disputes are increasing due to the efforts to change the leadership. Perhaps today's secretariat meeting will make some decision.’

Former CPN leader Haribol Gajurel called the issue of unity among leftists laughable. Gajurel accused that after the leftist alliance achieved a two-thirds majority in the 2074 elections, the country and the communist movement ultimately fell into disaster due to a secret agreement for rotational prime ministership. He suggested that the failed leadership should resign with self-criticism to solve the real problem.

‘Those who are now isolated from the party and the public are trying to confuse the cadres and the public again in the name of unity. The real solution is for the failed leadership to resign with self-criticism and repentance, and for the relatively revolutionary forces within all parties to move forward for broad left polarization and principled party unity. Let's follow the path of revolutionary unity, not the wrong path,’ Gajurel said.

Following the Janji movement, the government of the Congress-UML alliance led by Oli and the dissolution of the House of Representatives led to the House of Representatives elections on Falgun 21 last year. The UML, which received 28 lakh popular votes in the previous election, was reduced to 25 seats with 14 lakh 55 thousand votes. The alliance, including the former Maoist Center, which received 11 lakh 75 thousand votes last time, has received 17 seats with eight lakh 11 thousand votes this time.

UML Chairman Oli is in a difficult situation as leaders from his own camp, including Vice Chairman Bishnu Poudel, General Secretary Shankar Pokharel, and former Senior Vice Chairman Ishwar Pokharel, are actively trying to remove him from the leadership, concluding that the party suffered a major setback due to leadership.