Maoist vice-chairperson Dr. Bhattarai severs ties with party; planning to form a new party

Kathmandu / September 26: Former Prime Minister and vice-chairperson of UCPN-Maoist Dr. Baburam Bhattarai announced on Saturday that he has severed all ties with the UCPN-Maoist and given up the membership of Legislature-Parliament also.

In what seems as a very dramatic incident, Dr. Bhattrai organized a press conference in New Baneshwor of Kathmandu this afternoon and said that he has already informed the party chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, about his decision to give up all responsibilities including the general membership of the UCPN-Maoist.

He was the second man of the former rebel party since Mohan Baidya quit the UCPN-Maoist to form the CPN-Maoist in 2012.

Bhattarai also said he has handed over the resignation from the Parliament to Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang today itself after quitting the party as he was elected to the Constituent Assembly/Parliament from on the UCPN-Maoist’s ticket. He further said he would remain as an independent citizen for the time being, advocate for ‘progressive nationalism’ and fight against ‘fake nationalism’.

“I don’t have any plan as such for what to do next. I am open. I am thinking of consulting the like-minded people in the parties and outside,” he said. Responding to a query, he said he had not thought yet whether to form a new party or not. Dr. Bhattarai has been saying that there is a need of New Force in the country and has been holding consultations for forming such force. Dr. Bhattarai, who was very popular leader after the Maoist joined the political mainstream was losing his charm gradually due to his cheap comments in social media at a time when the country was passing through a very difficult juncture.

Recalling his contribution in the constitution drafting process, Bhattarai, who was the chairman of the Constitutional-Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee of the Constituent Assembly II and was the prime minister when the Constituent Assembly was dissolved, said it was a matter of happiness that the Constituent Assembly promulgated the Constitution. The CPDCC was responsible to forge consensus on disputed constitutional issues among major political forces.

Expressing his commitment to national sovereignty and integrity, inclusive and proportional democracy, prosperity, socialism for social justice and peace, and righteous conduct, Bhattarai said he was ready to extend his support as much as possible to solving the existing political problems and Nepal’s economic prosperity.

Of late, his opinions regarding the Constitution were different from the party line. He had openly extended support to the Madhes-based parties for the ongoing agitation while his chairman, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, along with ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML was calling them for dialogue. Bhattarai had voted in the Constituent Assembly for the new Constitution and taken part in its ultimate that promulgated the new charter. He, however, abstained from all celebration programmes. He had publicly stated that the time was not appropriate enough for merrymaking.

He was elected to the Constituent Assembly, which doubled as Legislature-Parliament, from Gorkha Constituency-1. He had served as the country’s prime minister from August 2011 to March 2013, during the first Constituent Assembly.

It is a common phenomenon in Nepali communist leaders to break the party if their vested interest are not met. The CPN-Maoist party, which joined political mainstream after waging a decade long armed insurgency that claimed lives of over 17 thousand people, underwent split for more than four times before Bhattarai. Some source close to Bhattarai hinted that Dr. Bhattrai is trying to form a new party after taking some disgruntled leaders of different Maoist parties and some tarai based parties. It is said that India is trying to see a new party under the leadership of Dr. Bhattarai including the Madhesh based parties to counter major political parties Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist.

Dr. Bhattarai is not satisfied with party chairman Prachanda after Prachanda hinted that he will continue party leadership for some time. Some analysts say that Dr. Bhattarai will not get any support from intellectuals as in recent days his statements and activities are against the national interest and seemed like imposed by some vested interest. They claim that Bhattarai’s attempt to form new party will be the game to add one new communist party and hold the portfolio of party chief. Despite the slogan of communist party that all communist across the globe are one there are more than 40 communist factions in Nepal.