KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Former Prime Minister and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairperson Madhav Kumar Nepal has defended the 2021 split from the CPN-UML, saying that questioning the justification of the rebellion that gave birth to his current party would be tantamount to surrendering to KP Sharma Oli.
Addressing the central committee meeting of his party in Sukedhara on Wednesday, Chairman Nepal said, “Saying that the UML rebellion was unjustified is nothing but surrender — laying oneself on the ground before Oli.”
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Chairman Nepal, once a prominent leader of the CPN-UML, broke away to form the Unified Socialist in 2021 after protracted internal rifts with UML Chair Oli over party control and leadership style.
His latest remarks come as dissent simmers within the Unified Socialist, with senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal and several others now questioning whether the split from UML was necessary. The party appears divided not only over its founding rationale but also its political future.
A section of leaders, led by Nepal, has been advocating for unity with the CPN (Maoist Centre) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, arguing that a left alliance is essential for political stability, while a section of other leaders including Ram Kumari Jhankri have stood in favor of going back to the UML.
A significant number of other leaders including Khanal and Ghanshyam Bhusal, however, including Khanal, oppose the idea, warning that a merger could dilute the party’s distinct identity and principles. It is yet to be seen which faction prevails in the decision making as Chairman Nepal and his team has reportedly reached closer to a deal to merge the party with the Maoist center.
