IANS
Kathmandu
The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, which led a decade long civil war until 2006, is on the verge of a split again - for the fourth time.
The party, led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, is now being broken by its former senior leader and former prime
minister Baburam Bhattarai.
Bhattarai, who departed from the party in September voicing displeasure over the new constitution the party chose, is now preparing to form a new political party akin to the Aam Aadmi Party of
India.
He said his new party will be socialist in nature and not a hardcore communist
outfit.
A total 45 Maoist central committee, standing committee and politburo members close to Bhattari yesterday furnished their resignations to join the proposed party to be formed by Bhattarai.
A meeting of these leaders held at Bhattarai’s residence decided to quit the Maoist party, said party leader Ram Rijan Yadav. “We have also given up the party
membership.”
In 2009, a faction under Matrika Yadav split from UCPN-Maoist. In 2012, the party suffered a split that was led by veteran communist leader, Mohan
Bidhaya Kiran.
Later, the party again split in 2014. This time a long-time aide of Dahal, Netra Bikram Chand, formed a new
communist party.
Now, Bhattarai, who completed his PhD from New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University in regional development and planning, has walked out.
Party leaders say new party will be formed within one and a half month.
Dahal’s UPCN-Maoist is in the government led by the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist.