Action against leaders sparks discontent among NCP cadres

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: As the March 5 House of Representatives (HoR) election draws closer, internal rifts within the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) have come sharply into focus. What began as disagreements over candidate selection has now escalated into open confrontation, with the party leadership initiating disciplinary action against several senior leaders.

The tensions stem from unresolved disputes over responsibility-sharing, work division, and ticket distribution following the unification of the former CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist).

The controversy in Sindhuli has reverberated beyond the district, exposing cracks within the party nationwide and leaving many cadres frustrated and disillusioned. With the election just around the corner, the simultaneous expulsion of seven leaders is widely seen as a move that could weaken the party and advantage its rivals.

Among those facing action is Sindhuli leader Haribol Gajurel. After the party issued a notice against him, Gajurel fired back, arguing that party Coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself should face disciplinary action. He accused Dahal of violating party rules, procedures, and norms, claiming that the leadership’s decisions were arbitrary and driven by personal ego rather than collective consensus.

Last week, the NCP formally expelled seven leaders, including Gajurel, for contesting the HoR election against the party’s official line and for proposing or supporting rebel candidates. Gajurel alleged that Dahal disregarded the Sindhuli district committee’s recommendations and imposed a candidate unilaterally. The removal of influential figures like former minister Gajurel is believed to have placed the party at a disadvantage in Sindhuli.

Those expelled include Haribol Gajurel (Sindhuli), Maheshwor Dahal (Sindhuli), Kul Prasad KC (Dang), Major Rai (Udayapur), Dharmanath Sah (Siraha), Rajkumari Sah (Siraha), and Jiwachh Sah (Siraha).

The fallout is already visible on the electoral field. Dharmanath Sah has entered the race with a UML ticket, while Maheshwor Dahal is contesting as a rebel candidate against the NCP’s official nominee, Rajan Dahal. Former Lumbini Province Chief Minister Kul Prasad KC, who had sought the party ticket, chose to run as an independent after being denied nomination. In Dang-1, the NCP has fielded Metmani Chaudhary as its official candidate. The party maintains that disciplinary action was taken against those who defied official decisions and those who proposed, supported, or campaigned for such candidates.

In a joint statement signed by Coordinator Dahal and Co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal, the party cited Article 106 of its statute to justify the expulsions. The statement declared that members contesting against official party candidates in the March 5 election, or supporting such candidacies, were expelled for breaching party discipline.

Defending the decision, Dahal said Gajurel had acted against party interests. “I had asked Haribol-ji to contest the election, but he declined. After he refused, Rajan-ji (Lekhnath Dahal) was given the ticket. Even if Rajan-ji had shortcomings, we invited all comrades from Sindhuli to Kathmandu and urged them to move forward in unity. They did not agree and maintained their candidacy. Therefore, we had no option but to take action,” Dahal said.

The turbulence has not stopped there. The NCP has also initiated disciplinary proceedings against former Karnali Chief Minister Rajkumar Sharma after he joined the Janardan Sharma-led Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party.

The party has moved to strip him of his provincial assembly membership. On February 5, Sharma was given 24 hours to submit a clarification letter explaining why he should not be removed from both party and parliamentary membership. He has yet to respond. Sharma was elected to the provincial assembly from Rukum West under the former Maoist Centre banner.

In another setback for the party, NCP central member Dipak Jangam Sharma has resigned altogether. Citing deepening factionalism, opaque decision-making, and deviations from party principles, he relinquished not only his central committee role but also his general membership. Sharma said he was unfairly treated during the proportional representation candidate selection process, arguing that the exclusion of his name from the Election Commission’s published list reflected a flawed decision by the party center.

He warned that growing internal divisions were weakening the organization and eroding its commitment to public values and principles. Remaining in the party, he said, had become incompatible with preserving his self-respect and political integrity.