KATHMANDU: Chairman of CPN-Maoist Center Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” has acknowledged that the Maoist Center is confronted with an identity crisis of late.

On a serious note, he said that the party is currently facing a full-blown crisis of identity, and that the Maoist party will have to face an uphill task to once again popularize its agenda.

“The latest result of the local-level election is evident that we are losing our identity of a patriotic party,” Prachanda told the newly-elected representatives of his party in Kathmandu, Wednesday.

“People looked upon us with faith and respect. But they (people) have started losing their faith in us,” Prachanda said adding that the Maoist party, too, has started following the path of other what he said “parliamentary” political parties.

“We have participated in the parliamentary process but let me make you clear that we have not accepted this type of parliamentary system,” Prachanda said.

He went on to say that the Maoist Center has deviated from its principles, ideology, and agenda of republicanism, federalism, secularism and inclusiveness.

“Let me also remind you all that other political parties are our followers,” he asserted.

On the issue of independent candidates winning the mayoral posts in Kathmandu and Dharan, Prachanda said, “Even they have raised the Maoist’s agenda.”

“However, the victory of the independent candidates should be taken as a lesson for us, not a threat” he added.

Stating that the Maoist Center has another opportunity to emerge as the largest party in the future despite challenges, he said his party could not bring the expected results in the recently-concluded local-level election.

“I do not want to blame the coalition partners, but unfortunately the results were not as expected,” he said.

Don’t show your arrogance: Prachanda warns NC

Likewise, Prachanda also warned Nepali Congress for not following the footsteps of the CPN-UML party.

“Mind you (NC), if you start showing arrogance on the basis of its victory in the local elections, it will also face a similar situation to that of the UML,” he warned.

“If the Maoist Center can take the NC to the government, it can also remove it from the government,” he warned.