Split in Maoist party imminent

TIKA R PRADHAN

KATHMANDU: With the announcement of separate gatherings by both the factions of the Unified CPN-Maoist, the party is inching closer towards split.

The radical faction led by senior vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya today announced its national gathering on June 15, while the establishment faction has called its plenum from June 29-July 1. The establishment faction will also organise a mass meet on June 15 to spread the word on what led to the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and fresh CA election.

Addressing a press conference at the faction’s Newa State Committee’s office in Kupondol, senior vice-chairman Baidhya said the process of splitting the UCPN-M had begun, as the establishment was drifting away from ideology.

He added that his faction could choose to take up arms again if they were not allowed to carry out their activities in a peaceful manner.

Baidhya said the central committee meeting of his faction would call a national gathering beginning June 15 to take a concrete decision regarding the formation of a new communist party.

Party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa condemned the PM for announcing CA election without consulting senior leaders of UCPN-M and other parties. He said Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai should admit that they were responsible for the untimely demise of CA as they were holding all major responsible positions.

“It’s ridiculous that the government that failed to draft constitution has announced another CA election,” adds the statement.

The radical Maoist faction proposed that an all-party round table meeting should be organised to form an interim national consensus government and that consensus government should take up the unfinished task of drafting the new constitution.

On the other hand, Chairman Dahal addressing the central committee meeting of the establishment faction at the party headquarters in Paris Danda, said he was ready to quit the top post if that helped to keep the party united. Hardliner leaders have been demanding the resignation of both Chairman Dahal and Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai claiming they had committed blunder.

According to politburo member Haribol Gajurel, who is close to Dahal, chairman had said the Maoist leaders could not understand the intention of the other parties’ to dissolve the CA.