KATHMANDU: CPN-Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the party’s unity with the CPN-UML was not a mistake.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the party’s 8th General Convention, he said introspection was necessary to search the reasons for split of the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party (NCP). “Forming the NCP though the merger of Maoists and UML was not a mistake. Let’s self-analyze why we’re in two places now,” he said.

Praising UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel’s statement given earlier at the program, Prachanda said one should reconsider the reasons why the unity could not last. Pokharel had earlier expressed regret over the failure to preserve the unity of the Maoist and his party.

Saying that he has been working very closely with CPN-Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal in recent times, the Maoist Center chair remarked that he wanted to move forward than being just coalition partners.

Prachanda said the political document drafted by him to present at the general convention was reflection of his introspection.