Senior leader of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Madhav Kumar Nepal does not believe in looking back. Once disgruntled with the functioning of the party and the leadership’s ‘monopoly’, Nepal believes the party will move ahead unitedly provided that it does not deviate from its principles. Khabarhub caught up former Prime Minister Nepal to talk about the party’s current developments. Excerpts:

Nepal Communist Party (NCP) took a fairly long time to formally unite the party. Don’t you think that this has irked the party folds? What exactly is the reason for the delay?

It has to be clearly understood that the party does not have any fundamental problem as conveyed and assumed. However, I feel that the need of the hour is to move ahead on the basis of the party principles, which means that the party should not deviate from the dogma. I believe that the leadership should convene regular central committee meetings, and the leaders should be able to make candid discussions on the agendas. Here, I mean to say that all crucial decisions should come from the central committee, not from an individual. Most importantly, the propensity of nepotism and favoritism within the party should end.

Did those concerns figure out in Sunday’s meeting of the party?

In fact, the party’s meeting on Sunday has been able to finalize the names of the district-level party presidents and secretaries. The meeting was more focused on finalizing the names.

How did the meeting go? Did you smell a rat in the decision? Did nepotism and favoritism play a role while finalizing the names?

Not exactly. The unification at the district level has been made on the basis of consensus and understanding. The rest will be done accordingly.

We also constituted the secretariat on the basis of understanding to function the party by including senior party leaders called “core of leadership’.

What prompted the unification bid after a long hiatus?

In fact, the cadres were disenchanted. The party was facing criticism from all quarters, especially from the grass root levels, for prolonging the unification process. The party leadership, I believe, comprehended the situation. They realized my involvement, approached me, and the process moved ahead. I took a staunch stance on unification on the basis of principles. And finally, we were able to do it.

Party leaders are displeased with the way the party secretariat was constituted. What’s your view on this?

We formed the standing committee encompassing 26 members each from the previous CPN-UML and the then Maoist party. However, we realized that there were only 22 members from the UML party. We then decided to add four more members from UML to address the confusion. We also constituted the secretariat on the basis of understanding to function the party by including senior party leaders called “core of leadership’.

Do you have any plans to add more members to the secretariat?

We are yet to work on it as of now.

What is hindering the process of finalizing the party politburo?

This, too, will be finalized at the earliest. The politburo will have 147 members altogether. We are currently working on it. They will be nominated on the basis of their contribution and experience.

You have been rooting for one-man-one-post. What is the current status?

We have put off the concern for now. I believe that the party has to adopt it, in the long run, to provide equal opportunity to all. The politburo will also be formed accordingly.

Do we understand that there has been a sort of settlement between you and the party leadership?

In fact, this is a ‘hundred percent understanding’, not a ‘sort of understanding’. If the agreement is correct on the documents, then I would not hesitate to call it a hundred percent settlement.

Has there been any agreement on the forthcoming general convention and the leadership? 

The issue has not been discussed yet. The focus now is to make the government successful. Ending all anomalies and disenchantment within the party is another priority to make the party widely accepted.

What is your perspective about filing your candidacy for the leadership in the general convention?

It will be too early to carry the load now. The time is to act to further consolidate the party at all levels, not chant the mantra of general convention. Time will decide.

People are unhappy with the government’s performance. What is your take on this?

The government should move ahead by representing the voice of the people. It should not shy away from making pro-people decisions.