KATHMANDU: Maoist Center’s Standing Committee meeting continues at the party office in Parisdanda in Koteswor.
This Standing Committee meeting marks the first since party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ departed from government.
Spokesman Agni Prasad Sapkota stated that the meeting is being held on Monday as not all standing committee members have finished sharing their opinions.
“Comrades are discussing the future of the party, which is why the meeting was not completed on Sunday and is continuing today,” Sapkota said.
“This meeting aims to energize the Maoists and guide them toward a new direction and way of thinking,” he claimed.
On Saturday, Deputy General Secretary Janardhan Sharma presented a 14-page proposal titled ‘Problems of Party Building, Solutions, and Upcoming Tasks.’
A leader who participated in the meeting told Khabarhub that 14 leaders voiced their opinions on Sharma’s proposal during Sunday’s discussions.
Leaders expressed frustration that internal party matters should not have been disclosed prematurely and called for an investigation into who leaked the report.
Three leaders shared with Khabarhub that while there is consensus on some of Sharma’s points, they support the need for party transformation.
However, they have not yet seen an immediate alternative to Prachanda and are calling for a special convention.
They are hesitant to fully support a change in leadership at this moment.
Vice Chair Pampha Bhusal also agreed with some of Sharma’s points but declined to elaborate.
Bhusal emphasized that the leadership needs to act promptly to reinvigorate the party and address growing public disillusionment.
Similarly, leader Hitman Shakya expressed concern that former Maoists themselves have ceased to view the Maoists favorably.
He warned that without awareness programs, the party could decline further.
The Maoist Center has been part of the government since 2074 BS.
With the party in power for 17 years, leaders are now evaluating the impact and effectiveness of their governance.
Speakers over the weekend highlighted the need to assess how much hope the party was able to instill in the public during its time in government.
A standing committee member told Khabarhub, “We need to evaluate how much hope the party provided to the people, whether the party was well-regarded or criticized, and how close we came to achieving socialism during these years.”
Standing committee member Kali Bahadur Malla emphasized the necessity of a campaign to revitalize the party in rural areas, suggesting that the party’s image needs a fresh approach.
Another member, Maheshwar Gahatraj, called for a serious review of the party’s strategy, warning that neglecting achievements and government performance could weaken the party’s position in future elections.
Leaders Shakti Bahadur Basnet and Urmila Aryal, known to be close to Chairman Prachanda, argued that major parties are attempting to overshadow the Maoist leadership despite their efforts to do good work.
Several speakers, including Janardhan Sharma, Kamala Roka, Onsari Gharti, Purnakumari Subedi, Kali Bahadur Malla, Prahlad Budhathoki, Haki Hakikala Khad, Jokh Bahadur Mahara, Jaipuri Gharti, and Shashi Shrestha, stressed the need for a transformative program to restore public confidence.
They also agreed on the necessity of holding a special convention to redefine the party’s direction but remain reluctant to endorse new leadership at this stage.
Deputy General Secretary Sharma has advocated for changes to the party’s organizational structure.
Secretaries Ram Karki, Devendra Poudel, and former Communications Minister Rekha Sharma have supported this stance.
Former Minister Sharma chose not to comment further when approached by Khabarhub.
Earlier, Secretary Karki highlighted the need to move away from outdated principles and adopt new leadership and strategies.
General Secretary Dev Gurung declined to comment on the new structure and special convention, deferring to the party spokesperson for details.
Meanwhile, Spokesperson Sapkota confirmed that there is consensus on creating a new organizational structure and presenting it to the public.
He added that discussions also included raising the party’s voice both within and outside the government.
Sapkota informed the media, “The party Chairman is taking note of the standing committee members’ suggestions as important input. He did not speak today but is listening. The president will address the committee members only at the conclusion of the meeting.”
All leaders agreed that the report presented by Deputy General Secretary Janardhan Sharma on Saturday should remain confidential within the party.
The report, which was distributed in print and via email, was also ordered to be removed from the party office’s computer systems.
However, when the report was unexpectedly published in the media on Sunday morning, it sparked anger among Maoist officials towards Sharma.
Leaders expressed frustration that internal party matters should not have been disclosed prematurely and called for an investigation into who leaked the report.
A standing committee member remarked, “The report, which was only meant for internal review, appeared in the media on Sunday morning. We believe it was inappropriate to leak such internal matters.”
According to the leader, Chairman Prachanda and other leaders also criticized the report after its public release.
Meanwhile, Prachanda chose not to respond when 14 standing committee members shared their views on Sunday.
He listened to their feedback but did not offer any comments.
Spokesperson Sapkota confirmed that Prachanda had no planned remarks and was simply noting the suggestions as important documents.
Sapkota informed the media, “The party Chairman is taking note of the standing committee members’ suggestions as important input. He did not speak today but is listening. The president will address the committee members only at the conclusion of the meeting.”
Leaders, other than the spokesperson, are currently prohibited from commenting on the standing committee meeting.
The other leaders have agreed not to provide information about the meeting beyond what spokesperson Sapkota has shared.
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