The debates among Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda', senior vice-chairman Mohan Vaidya ‘Kiran', and another vice-chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai about the future political course of the party and their inter-personal rifts have led to deep fissures in the organisation. But the leaders have emphasised that despite differences, the party will not split.
Last week, the party's trade union chief and Mr. Prachanda's aide Shaligram Jamarkattel signed a deal with the umbrella business chamber agreeing to an NRS 1600 pay hike for workers. Two other factions of the Maoist trade union, led by Mr. Kiran's aide Badri Bajgain and Bhattarai supporter Laldhwaj Nemwang slammed the deal, terming it as a sell-out. In the past few months, both Mr. Bajgain and Mr. Nemwang have been accusing Mr. Jamarkattel of financial corruption and set up their own parallel committees.
The party also recently announced the formation of People's Volunteer Bureau led by key confidante of Mr. Kiran, Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplab'. The stated purpose of the bureau was to engage in “production, reconstruction and people's security”, though other parties have expressed apprehensions that the party intends to use the mechanism for its goal of a “people's revolt”. The decision has led to an intra-party turf war. Leaders of the Young Communist League, which is loyal to Mr. Prachanda, see the bureau as an effort by Mr. Kiran's faction to undercut their unit.
The divisions have also delayed the formation of a full Cabinet. Of the four Maoist Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister handling Information and Communication portfolio, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, is close to both Mr. Prachanda and Mr. Kiran; Peace Minister Barshaman Pun ‘Ananta' is from the Mr. Prachanda faction; Physical Works Minister Top Bahadur Raymajhi is close to Mr. Bhattarai; Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma is a Mr. Kiran supporter. The party is yet to finalise the other names as chairman Mr. Prachanda struggles to reconcile the claims of all factions, including his own.
In February, Dr. Bhattarai, backed by more than 50 party MPs, had opposed the party decision to back UML leader Jhalanath Khanal as Prime Minister. He also walked out of a party programme in January when he was not allowed to put forth his political line, which stresses on peace and constitution and importance of not antagonising India at this stage. The official party line, backed by Mr. Prachanda and Mr. Kiran, holds that the people's principal contradiction is with “Indian expansionism and domestic reactionaries” and “people's revolt” is the roadmap if a people's federal democratic republican constitution was not promulgated.
On Sunday, Dr. Bhattarai dismissed rumours that he was splitting the party,.
