Khadka had left one of the UN-monitored cantonments, opposing the way his party agreed to integrate the combatants to the national army. [break]
He, however, kept himself engaged in the party politics at the grassroots level, and the UCPN (Maoist) district chapter proposed his name for the upcoming Constituent Assembly election from Dang.
However, he could not receive the official nomination of the party´s central committee.
Suka Bahadur Roka, another former Maoist commander, was hopeful that he would be fielded as the formal candidate for the election from the constituency-2 of Rolpa district.
However, his name could not go beyond the list of the initial candidates for the district. The party fielded central committee leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara instead.
Raj Badur Budha, a former Maoist commander, who also aspired for a ticket to the upcoming CA polls from Rolpa, was also turned down by the party.
"Both former combatants proposed by the district chapter have been turned down by the central committee," informed UCPN (M) Rolpa district Coordinator, Nimakant Dangi.
Not only in Dang and Rolpa districts, none of the former combatants proposed as the candidates under first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system from four districts in the Rapti zone could make to the final list of the party´s candidate for the CA.
Nine former combatants were nominated as candidate in the initial phase.
Former combatants Hiralal Chaudhari and Tara Pun´s dream to represent in the CA election from their districts also could not materialize.
They are now dissatisfied that the party for which they sacrificed their productive years of life turned apathetic toward them.
“The party neither helped us to join the Nepal Army nor fielded us as candidates for the CA election," they said in unison.
They have taken this as a disregard for the decade-long sacrifice they made for the party. "We have been holding discussion on how to deal with the party´s apathetic behavior toward us," said former brigade commander Khadka.
"We will not participate in election nor help our party," he added. “Now, no sacrifice will be made for the sake of the party. At best, we will remain well wishers."
The former combatants had even warned to announce rebel candidacy against the party´s authentic candidates.
However, the party high command had placated them saying that they will be accommodated in the list of candidates under the proportional representation (PR) system.
“If the party fails to address the demand of the former combatants, it would not receive help from the Young Communist League (YCL) and former combatants in the time of election," said Khadka, who leads more than 800 former combatants and 1,500 YCL cadres in the district.
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