KHABARHUB: Khabarhub recently spoke with Ghanashyam Bhusal, General Secretary of the CPN (Unified Socialist), about the party’s recent decision to move toward unification with the Maoist Centre.
Bhusal expressed skepticism about the move, saying party unity would be meaningless unless the first-generation leaders step down. Below are excerpts from the interview:
The party seems almost certain to merge with the Maoist Centre. What is your position on this?
The party’s secretariat has been given the authority to make the final decision. I will wait until then.
If Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal decides to go ahead with the merger, what will you do?
There has been no clear decision yet. It has only been said that a formal decision will come from the secretariat meeting. I will raise my concerns there. I believe the chairman will also make a decision in the best interest of the party.
If the secretariat approves the merger, will you also join the Maoist faction?
No. I have already decided not to go along in the current circumstances. There’s no point in merging under the existing conditions or leadership mindset.
Did Chairman Nepal personally tell you about the plan to unite with the Maoists?
No, he didn’t. Apart from the official party meetings, we haven’t discussed it. As a responsible leader, I don’t act based on speculation. I’ll wait for the official secretariat discussion before making my move.
You are organizing a separate gathering. What is its purpose?
It’s not exactly a separate gathering. It’s more of a meeting within the party to discuss our way forward collectively. We want everyone to stay together and talk openly.
You’ve said you support broader left unity. What kind of unity are you proposing?
Yes, I support left unity — but it should be built on a solid foundation of ideology and organization. What’s happening now feels rushed, like in 2074 BS. We need organic, natural unity — not one driven by political convenience.
What changes are necessary for that kind of unity to happen?
The parties need to be ready for reorganization. For that, the first-generation leaders must step down. Our demand is clear — they should leave active leadership. Once that happens, we can unite on the basis of shared principles and ideas. But under the current setup, unity doesn’t make sense.
Do you mean leaders like Madhav Nepal, Prachanda, and Jhalanath Khanal should step aside and become guardians?
That’s a matter for deeper discussion, but yes — the first generation should make way for the next. People want change. Without reorganization, the public won’t see any real transformation.
There’s talk that you’re caught between Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Nepal. Is that true?
No, that’s not the case. I’m not choosing between individuals — I’m choosing principles and ideas. Until the secretariat meeting takes place, I’ll continue to stand by those principles. The question isn’t who leads; it’s about how we redefine leadership and politics for the future.
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