KATHMANDU: CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has said that he regrets not being able to save the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) (that was formed through unity between UML and Maoist Center).

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the eighth general convention of the CPN-Maoist Center Sunday, he said, “The intention behind the formation of NCP was right and that unity was justified. However, not being able to sustain that unity is regrettable.” He added that the people had given a mandate to the NCP by approving unity between the two communist parties, however, it could not be saved.

Pokharel said the communist movement in the country was not moving towards the right direction due to differing views on working policy and individual interests.

“Disagreements on working policy and individual aspirations have affected our common aim,” he said. “The leftist movement cannot move forward when leaders tend to formulate policies based on conflict. The situation is communist forces are not even on speaking terms,” he added.

He stressed on the need for all political parties to be on equal footing in terms of national integrity and foreign affairs. He said that despite several political revolutions in Nepal for the last seven decades, parties had failed to make the people feel that change.