My relationship with Prachanda has reached a difficult turn: Maoist leader Shrestha

KATHMANDU: CPN-Maoist Center leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said that his relationship with party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has reached a difficult turn.

Addressing the Central Committee meeting of the party’s that kicked off in Kathmandu Friday, Shrestha said that he has been in touch with Prachanda for over two decades. “However, Prachanda asked me to quit the party at a press conference.”

According to a leader attending the meeting, Shrestha cautioned that no one should make a serious mistake in the historical turning point.

Five leaders, including Shrestha, opposed the party’s decision to ratify the US grant Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) agreement with descriptive notes on February 27.

Holding a press conference a day after MCC was ratified from parliament with the Maoist support, Prachanda had, pointing Shrestha, said one was allowed to have a difference of opinion in the party but it was not necessary for anyone to be sentimental about it.

At the press conference earlier this week, recalling that Bamdev Gautam had received zero seats after he split from UML, Prachanda had said, “If somebody wants to take that path, nobody would stop them.”

After Prachanda’s statement, Shrestha faction in the party raised voices that the faction had to leave the party.