KATHMANDU: Dissatisfaction has emerged within the CPN (Unified Socialist) after party chair Madhav Kumar Nepal moved forward with a plan to merge the party with Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’-led CPN (Maoist Centre).
Several leaders voiced strong objections as Nepal prepared to pass the unification proposal through a majority vote during the party’s ongoing third central committee meeting in Kathmandu.
Senior leaders, including Jhalanath Khanal, General Secretary Ghanashyam Bhusal, Standing Committee members Ramkumari Jhakri and Laxman Lamsal, have warned that they will rebel if the party proceeds with the merger.
Lamsal argued that both Nepal and Khanal should step aside with dignity and hand over leadership to the younger generation.
According to leaders present, 32 members spoke during Thursday’s meeting: 21 supported broader left unity, while 28 opposed merging specifically with the Maoist Centre.
Former ANNFSU chair and central committee member Arati Lama remarked that the party’s decision could mark a new turning point in Nepal’s political history, saying a merger with the Maoists would require “new ways of thinking.”
Key leaders opposing the merger:
- Jhalanath Khanal, Senior Leader
- Ghanendra Basnet, Senior Leader
- Ghanashyam Bhusal, General Secretary
- Bijay Paudel, Standing Committee Member
- Ramkumari Jhakri, Standing Committee Member
- Jivan Ram Shrestha, Standing Committee Member
- Laxman Lamsal, Politburo Member
- Abdul Hussain, Politburo Member
- Ashesh Ghimire, Politburo Member
- Damodar Aryal, Politburo Member
- Dharma Niraula, Politburo Member
- Mahesh Regmi, Politburo Member
- Arati Lama, Central Committee Member
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