KATHMANDU: The internal dispute within CPN (Unified Socialist) has deepened further, now spilling over into its youth wing.
Barely weeks after tensions surfaced between party chair Madhav Kumar Nepal and senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal, the Youth Association Nepal has fractured, resulting in the formation of a parallel committee.
The conflict escalated after Youth Association in-charge Laxman KC issued a circular on July 28 announcing the formation of the 9th National Convention Organizing Committee. Opposing factions rejected the move and, on Sunday, convened a separate meeting, declaring a parallel organizing committee led by Sandeep Rai.
The newly announced committee includes 221 leaders from across the country. Chair Rai, aligned with Khanal and General Secretary Ghanashyam Bhusal, argued that many youth leaders had already become central committee members through the party’s 10th General Convention and should no longer be counted as youth wing officials. He accused KC of acting unilaterally and violating the youth association’s constitution.
“Instead of respecting organizational principles, the in-charge imposed an illegitimate and politically motivated committee,” Rai stated, stressing that their decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the youth movement.
The opposing camps reflect the broader factional divide in the mother party—KC is seen close to Chair Nepal, while Rai is considered loyal to Khanal. Observers warn that with the youth wing now embroiled in disputes, the Unified Socialist may face even deeper internal instability.
Comment