Kathmandu. The CPN-Maoist is at a crossroads after the US Agency for International Development (USAID) passed the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
According to a source, the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) is preparing to announce a new party under the leadership of leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
After the MCC was passed by the House of Representatives on Sunday, the dispute between UCPN (M) Central Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha came to the surface.
Speaking at a press conference in Khumaltar on Monday, Dahal said that he could not stop Bamdev Gautam from leaving the party. He also urged not to be too emotional about the MCC after it was passed by the parliament.
Recalling the Mahakali Treaty with India, Dahal said that the then UML leader Bamdev Gautam could not be stopped if he chose the same path. He said that he had expressed his dissatisfaction outside the party and would not stop even if he left the party.
After the MCC was passed by the parliament, Shrestha had remarked that the patriotic Nepali people would take Sunday as a ‘black day’. He has even termed the MCC as a treasonous agreement.
“Eventually, the treacherous MCC agreement was approved by the parliament, spreading the illusion of a deliberate declaration,” Shrestha said. “The patriotic Nepali people will take it as a black day.”
Leaders of the UCPN (Maoist) including Shrestha, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Lilamani Pokhrel, Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Anjana Bishankhe and Rekha Sharma had expressed dissatisfaction over the MCC’s decision not to be passed in the meeting on Sunday.
Expressing dissatisfaction with Dahal’s decision, Shrestha also called for joining hands to protect national sovereignty. However, at a press conference on Monday, Dahal said that all the Maoist MPs had passed the MCC unanimously.
Stating that he has expressed dissatisfaction in the media and social media after the MCC was passed, Dahal has expressed anger over Shrestha’s move. He said that he would like to express his satisfaction in the party’s central committee. Dahal also said that Shrestha did not accept his dissatisfaction.
“After Narayankaji was told this, after speaking, all the Maoist cadres would come to him and focus on him,” Dahal said.
Dahal taunted Narayan Kaji, saying that the Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party had become the biggest party in the country despite its opposition to the MCC. “Prem Suwal had spoken out against MCC. The whole of Nepal should follow him, but that is not the case. If there was a big party against the opposition of MCC, if there was a vote, everyone would be with Prem Suwal, MP of Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party. But, that is not the case in politics, ‘he said.
Preparations have been made to form a new party under the leadership of Shrestha, who has become even more angry with such remarks of Chairman Prachanda. From Dev Gurung to Krishna Bahadur Mahara, there is talk of new party vice president and from general secretary Lilamani Pokhrel to Lekhnath Neupane. According to a source, they are ready to split the party in any case depending on the situation.
