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Phanindra Dahal

The Kathmandu Post

Publication Date : 03-01-2013

People’s revolt or a people’s war, this dilemma on its future course is surely going to give the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) a hard time as it begins its general convention next week.

In debates over a political document presented by party Chairman Mohan Baidya at the district and state committee levels, cadres stressed the party adopt a concrete roadmap. And whether the party adopts a people’s revolt or a people’s war, cadres questioned if the leadership should set up a military structure.

Baidya’s document is expected to be finalised by the party’s central committee ahead of the general convention scheduled for January 9. The draft, which has been circulated at the lower units, concludes that the party should complete the incomplete revolution by sticking to the line of “people’s revolt set on the foundations of the people’s war”.

Insiders said there is pressure on the leadership to define the nature of its struggle to “complete the revolution.”

When the CPN-Maoist split from the mother Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) party in June, the breakaway faction had concluded that Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had “demolished the People’s War”.

“If we are to conclude that there have been no achievements from the people’s war, the party should clearly stipulate whether we are to take up arms once again or rely on a people’s revolt,” said one leader.

Party Secretary Netra Bikram Chand, who has strong grassroots support, has been urging the party to begin preparations for a people’s war, while Baidya, Vice-chairman CP Gajurel and senior leader Dev Gurung are in favour of a people’s revolt.

Baidya has rejected fresh elections for the Constituent Assembly (CA), arguing that the CA has been “hijacked by regressive and reactionary forces.”

His party will not make alliances with parliamentary forces and compromise on its revolutionary goals, he said.

In current discussions, cadres have asked the leadership to explain the means of achieving “people’s constitution and people’s federal republic” in the absence of a CA.

However, some leaders, including Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal and Hitman Shakya, have suggested that the party keep open the option of participating in fresh CA elections.

The party is all set to endorse collective leadership and retain its existing leadership at the general convention.

However, discussions are underway to increase the size of its 44-member central committee to 75.

Discussions are also taking place on the powers to be allocated to the party chairman and general secretary.

Leaders, however, seem to have realised that the centralisation of power in the hands of one individual could “resurrect a fake leader,” who will once again compromise on the goals of the party.

Around 1,200 delegates from across the country will gather at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu to decide on the party’s roadmap.

The party’s Politburo is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the general convention. Central Committee member Kumar Dahal said the party will launch an agitation to “safeguard national sovereignty.”

“Foreign intervention is at its highest. People feel that the present government is an agent of foreign powers,” said Dahal.

He claimed that the party would adopt alliances with other parties to expose this foreign intervention.