On Monday morning, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal visited CPN General Secretary Netra Bikram Chand at his residence in Harisiddhi, Lalitpur.
During the visit, Dahal held a conversation with Chand for about 45 minutes, and also observed the paddy fields planted by Chand. He then returned to Khumaltar.
When asked what topics were discussed between Dahal and Chand, Dahal’s press advisor, Govinda Acharya, said that the meeting focused on contemporary political developments and the issue of party unification.
"They discussed current politics and party unification. Overall, the discussion was positive," he said.
The Maoist Center’s standing committee meeting held in early August had decided to pursue party unification with the Chand-led CPN. But three weeks after the decision, the unification process has not moved forward yet.
The CPN labeled the Maoist Center’s decision on unification as "unilateral."
CPN spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma said that the CPN has not held internal discussions on the matter. CPN leaders informally asked the Maoists to clarify the basis and objectives of unification.
According to Bishwakarma, during Dahal’s visit to Harisiddhi on Monday, the discussions revolved around contemporary issues and party unification. He said the meeting covered two main topics.
The first topic was the situation of the country.
"Both leaders analyzed that the country is in a challenging position due to recent geopolitical issues. Geopolitical challenges have increased due to the Lipulekh issue and the MCC. They concluded that the domestic situation is also critical," Bishwakarma said. The MCC was passed by Parliament when Dahal was prime minister.
The second topic was party unification.
Dahal explained the standing committee’s decision on unification during the meeting with Chand.
"We have decided to pursue unification with seriousness and sincerity. The unity of communists is also a necessity for national politics," Bishwakarma quoted Dahal as saying during the meeting.
In response, Chanda said that it is time to review the communist movement and political movement. He emphasized that current problems cannot be solved by maintaining the status quo and that a new political roadmap is necessary.
"Communists must take responsibility in terms of ideology and political vision to lead this. The main issues are building a revolutionary communist party, socialist revolution, establishing a socialist system, resolving current problems, establishing people’s rights, and national independence. This is our mission, and we will not deviate from it," Bishwakarma quoted Chand as saying.
Chand also told Dahal that the CPN’s upcoming central committee meeting would make a decision regarding party unification.
According to Bishwakarma, the CPN is preparing to hold its central committee meeting in the third week of September.
