Party's fate in 'miraculous' Prachanda's hands

TIKA R PRADHAN

KATHMANDU: The fate of Unified CPN-Maoist is currently in the hands of ‘evergreen’ party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who has been holding supreme power over the party for two decades.

Dahal’s supremacy was challenged by the hardliners during the sixth extended meeting of the party held at Palungtar where Dahal’s line had failed. Differences just grew with the unexpected political developments.

“It’s not a matter of looks, the real problem lies in the content,” said standing committee member Dev Prasad Gurung. He said the problem was with the leadership Pushpa Kamal Dahal, whose line of peace and constitution has failed and this is crystal clear to everyone.

With the demise of the Constituent Assembly, the hard-earned property of the party through the sacrifice of more than 10,000 people has withered away along with the party’s PLA. All the documents since the Chunbang meeting and agreements including the Comprehensive Peace Agreement have been shattered with the demise of the CA, Gurung said.

“This proves Baburam Bhattarai’s line is wrong. Now the question is whether they admit it or not,” Gurung said adding that the party can still remain one if Dahal dares to face his mistakes and admits that Bhattarai’s line, which he adopted has flopped.

For Gurung, the announcement of CA election at a time when the whole nation is against it is nothing but a ploy to save the government. He, however, has not lost hope. The party can still remain one for some time if the establishment admits its mistake and calls a joint gathering to discuss the party’s line and the future strategy.

During his latest press conference after May 28, Dahal had said he would appease the radical Baidhya faction. If Chairman Dahal performs a miracle once again, as he has been saying he can sacrifice anything to save the party, there is still a slim chance that UCPN-M, the largest party in the dissolved CA, can remain one.