KATHMANDU: The Unified CPN-Maoist has made some changes in the existing organisational structure of the party during the standing committee meeting recently.

The party has changed four major

departments into mechanisms with minor changes in the leadership.

The media department headed by party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma has now turned “media mechanism” headed by Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai. The mechanism includes Sharma and Maheswor Dahal, the central committee member and president of the Revolutionary Journalists Association.

Sharma said the change was made as the party decided to let one of the central office bearers to head the publicity department.

Some Maoist leaders, however, claimed that the changes were made due to increasing complaints that the department could not perform well at a time when the party leadership is facing attacks from all directions.

The ideology and political mechanism is

headed by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya

‘Kiran’. Krishna Das Shrestha and Dinanath Sharma are its members.

Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ heads the

Legislature Parliament mechanism. Party secretary Post Bahadur Bogati and standing committee members Dev Gurung and Lokendra Bista

are the members.

Further, the nine-member committee

that had been formed for the drafting of the new constitution has been reduced to a three-member team. The committee includes Dr Bhattarai, ‘Prakash’ and Dev Gurung.

“The strength of the committee was reduced

because most of the work in the Constituent

Assembly have been completed,” said

standing committee member Barsha Man

Pun ‘Ananta’.

Likewise, Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ leads the organisation mechanism. Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, CP Gajurel, Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’, Girirajmani Pokhrel and Barshaman Pun ‘Ananta’ are the members of the mechanism.

The party’s United National Peoples’ Movement is headed by Dr Bhattarai, in which Amik Sherchan, Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’, Janardan Sharma ‘Pravakar’ and Lekhraj Bhatta are involved.