Prachanda’s party facing split again

Prachanda-led Unified CPN-Maoist, a major partner in Nepal’s ruling coalition, is on the verge of a split again after 45 central members Tuesday quit the party to join former premier Baburam Bhattarai’s new outfit.

Mr Bhattarai, who quit the party in September voicing his reservation regarding the promulgation of the new Constitution, is intensifying consultation with different political leaders in an attempt to form a new political force in the country which is facing political crisis in the wake of Madhesis’ protest against the new Constitution.

The 45 central members of the party have not only quit the party’s high post, but have also resigned from the general membership to join the proposed party to be formed by Mr Bhattarai, sources said. Former standing committee of the UCPN-Maoist, Devendra Poudya told PTI that the Bhattarai faction has support of almost 40 per cent of the sitting MPs belonging to the UCPN-Maoist.

“Although none of the Parliament Members has quit the party now due to some technical reasons, they will quit at an appropriate time to form a new force,” he claimed. “We will come up with a new political party in a month or so,” Mr Poudyal said. According to Poudyal, the new party will be socialist in nature and not a hardcore Communist outfit.