Rift deepens in CPN (Unified Socialist)

Four years ago, Madhav Kumar Nepal and his team left the CPN-UML, citing the lack of intra-party democracy and Party Chairperson KP Sharma Oli’s monopoly over the party and government. They also opposed the dissolution of Parliament, siding instead with Sher Bahadur Deuba and Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Ironically, Nepal, now leading the CPN (Unified Socialist), faces similar accusations from his own senior leaders. Although the Special Court has filed corruption cases against him, he has refused to step down as party chair. In 2008, Nepal had resigned from the UML chairpersonship, taking responsibility for the party’s poor performance in the first Constituent Assembly elections. Today, his party is already weak, and growing internal rifts threaten to worsen its position ahead of upcoming local and national elections. Many leaders and cadres are preparing to return to the UML, seeing no future in the CPN (US). Meanwhile, the UML is actively working to lure them back.

Inside the party, a two-line struggle has emerged between Nepal and senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal. A few weeks ago, Khanal publicly admitted that the party split could not be justified, a sentiment echoed by several leaders. This angered Nepal, who suggested Khanal leave the party, claiming he had no political or moral grounds to remain. Khanal, in turn, has hardened his stance, calling on Nepal to step down due to the corruption case and proposing the appointment of an acting chair. Dissatisfaction has spread within the party over Nepal’s refusal to relinquish leadership.

A new twist emerged when former senior UML leader Bam Dev Gautam, who had maintained an independent position since the 2021 split, joined the CPN (US). Initially, Gautam wanted to rejoin the UML, but Oli did not welcome him. Now in the CPN (US), Gautam says he has requested the role of organizational head, but the leadership has yet to take a call on his request. He has since aligned with Khanal in pressuring Nepal, and the two have held multiple rounds of talks.

Nepal remains firm that splitting from the UML was the right choice. “We took the right steps as we stood against those who breached the constitution. We came to the streets, and we knocked on the court’s door. The decision to split the party is justified,” he said. In response to the mounting pressure, he has postponed key party meetings. Meanwhile, talks between the CPN (US) and the
CPN (Maoist Centre) are ongoing. The Maoists have formally proposed party unification, though the CPN (US) has yet to decide.

This week, Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Ghana Shyam Bhushal held lengthy discussions, although Shrestha is not officially authorized to negotiate unification. However, Maoist Chair Dahal has told his party that talks with Nepal are progressing positively. The CPN (US), despite having 10 seats in the national parliament, has yet to gain national party status. On Saturday, Nepal and Khanal met for over an hour to resolve their differences, but made no progress. The widening rift within the CPN (US) is likely to benefit the CPN-UML, which continues working to draw away its leaders and cadres.