CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal have been holding frequent discussions in recent days.
The increasing frequency of meetings between Dahal and Nepal has raised the possibility of unity between the two parties, a Unified Socialist politburo member said.
“There have been frequent meetings between Maoist Center Chairman Prachanda [Dahal] and Chairman Nepal lately. The meetings naturally include discussions on the current political situation, but they also cover the topic of party unity,” the leader said.
According to him, the unity discussions are currently limited to the two chairmen. The topic has not yet been introduced in the party committees.
“First, they need to reach a basic agreement. Only after they finalize the unity decision will it be discussed in the committees. A conclusion will be reached only after thorough discussions in the committees,” he said.
A meeting of the Socialist Front is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Although the front was formed to align on common issues, hold rotational leadership in meetings, and establish a unified stance on national politics, there has been a lack of consensus recently.
Recently, CPN General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand met with CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel. Chand does not seem to favor unity among the front’s constituents, and his public stance suggests that this could hinder the front’s operations. Currently, Chand is the coordinator of the front.
Another Unified Socialist leader revealed that Chairman Dahal himself has been pushing the unity proposal.
He claimed that the internal crisis within the Maoist Center has led Dahal to propose unity.
"Questions against Prachanda are being raised in complex ways within the party. Vice-chairman Janardan Sharma is emerging as a challenger. His question as to why their journey went downhill after 2007 and who should take responsibility for it is resonating strongly within the Maoist Center," the leader said. "Meanwhile, Prachanda’s relationship with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has also deteriorated. It is natural for Deuba to be upset as Prachanda engages more with Shekhar Koirala. Amidst these mounting crises, proposing unity seems like a natural escape route."
However, conditions for unity within the Unified Socialist remain unfavorable, the leader added.
According to the leader, Chairman Nepal is also in a precarious position within the Unified Socialist.
With the CIAA filing a corruption case against him at the Special Court in connection with the Patanjali land scam, Nepal faces legal and moral scrutiny. As court proceedings continue, pressure is mounting for him to step down from leadership. Respected Leader Jhala Nath Khanal had even advised him to resign before leaving for China. Debates over leadership change persist within the party.
"With Madhav Nepal weighed down by reputation concerns, Prachanda may be trying to exploit the situation to absorb the party at a low cost," the leader said. "But the environment for unity hasn’t matured. There’s deep distrust toward the Maoist Center due to their betrayals in local, provincial, and federal elections."
The leader said that it’s not yet clear how the parties should unite and on what basis.
Unified Socialist’s Respected Leader Khanal dismissed any immediate possibility of unity with the Maoist Center. He claimed that he was also unaware of any such discussions.
"There’s been no talk of unity with the Maoists. This is all rumor. Maybe some wish for unity. Those who have such desires can join the Maoist Center right now. But the Unified Socialist will not unite with the Maoist Center," he told Setopati.
He added that if the Maoist Center had made a proposal, it should have been formally tabled for discussion in the party’s secretariat or central committee.
"Which leader holds discussion where is not the party’s concern. But no unity discussions have taken place within the Unified Socialist," he said.
He noted that talks of unity were irrelevant at a time when other pressing issues dominate the party’s agenda.
Maoist Center Vice-chairman Barsha Man Pun also confirmed no internal discussions on unity with the Unified Socialist.
When asked about rumors of unity, Pun denied any such talks. "There have been no talks on unity with the Unified Socialist," he said.
The Maoist Center has 32 lawmakers in the House of Representatives, while the Unified Socialist has 10.
Discussions on unity between the two parties were held in different stages in the past as well.
As Dahal and Nepal engage in intense negotiations, leaders have started calling leaders in the provinces to build momentum for unity.
According to a source, Vice-chairman Haribol Gajurel even phoned Indra Angbo, Maoist leader in Koshi province, to inform him about unity discussions with the Unified Socialist.
Maoist Center leaders appear enthusiastic after discussions on unity with the Unified Socialist. However, the atmosphere in the Unified Socialist remains lukewarm, with party leaders saying the Maoist Center must first build an environment of trust.
