Maoist parties of Nepal unite under Prachanda; takes a new name
Ten Maoist parties and factions in Nepal have united under the banner of the biggest party, Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
Ten Maoist parties and factions in Nepal have united under the banner of the biggest party, Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known as ‘Prachanda’ addresses a crowd after announcing the unification of the party with splintered groups to form the new party, the Communist Party Nepal (Maoist Centre) in Kathmandu. (AFP)
The leaders of the different groups decided on Thursday to rename the UCPN (M) as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre).
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“This isn’t just unification among Maoists, it is the start of a national unity among those who are oppressed and exploited,” a jubilant Prachanda said after the unification move was officially endorsed.
With 80 seats in the 601-member parliament, UCPN (M) is the third largest party and an important member of the ruling coalition headed by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist).
The UCPN(M) emerged the biggest party after the 2008 constituent assembly polls but it has, over the years, witnessed a decline in political fortunes due to differences among senior leaders and several splits.
One of the senior-most leaders, former premier Baburam Bhattarai, left the party last year to form a new group called Naya Shakti. On Thursday, Prachanda appealed to his former colleague to return.
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The most important inclusion in the new party is the Ram Bahadur Thapa faction of the Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party of Nepal (Revolutionary Maoist).
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The most important inclusion in the new party is the Ram Bahadur Thapa faction of the Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party of Nepal (Revolutionary Maoist).
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Baidya, a hardliner who wants to continue with “peoples’ revolution”, had split from the UCPN (M) in 2012 over ideological differences with Prachanda. He is still against unification, unlike many senior leaders who have deserted him.
Other parties who joined on Thursday include the Revolutionary Communist Party led by Mani Thapa and Matrika Yadav’s Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.
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