KATHMANDU, Oct 27: The CPN (Unified Socialist) is facing a potential split just three years after its formation, following Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal’s decision to unite with the CPN (Maoist Centre).
The Nepal-led faction reportedly planned to merge with the Maoist Centre ahead of the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. However, senior party leader Jhalanath Khanal has made it clear that he will not join the Maoist Centre. He stated that the majority of party workers have opted to reorganize the Unified Socialist instead, signaling a possible internal restructuring of the party.
Senior Vice-Chairman Beduram Bhusal, coordinator of the party’s negotiation committee, said that document exchanges are underway and broad theoretical consensus has been reached on several issues with the Maoist Center. “Discussions are currently underway. Document exchanges are taking place,” Bhusal said.
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Bhusal added that the party unity is expected to be formally announced at a national convention before the party registration deadline. The Election Commission (EC) has set November 26 as the registration deadline for elections scheduled for March 5.
Amid the unification process, leaders aligned with Khanal are holding intensive discussions under the leadership of General Secretary Ghanshyam Bhusal. They have reaffirmed their commitment to reorganizing the party and accused Madhav Nepal of betraying the movement.
According to Beduram Bhusal, the guiding principles of the unified party will continue to be Marxism and Leninism, with democratic centralism as its organizational framework and scientific socialism as its ultimate goal. The merged party is expected to be named CPN (Socialist). Since the EC has already registered this name, it will be retained following the merger. “The party’s name will be CPN (Socialist),” Bhusal confirmed.
While there is agreement to adopt the pen as the election symbol, it has not yet been officially announced. Party leaders believe the pen symbol will be more relatable to the public than the traditional sickle and hammer. Following the national convention, the party will not have multiple office-bearers—a decision made in light of past challenges during the CPN-UML era.
This structure will remain until a unity convention is held, the timing of which has yet to be finalized. Until then, the party will continue to be managed by the coordinator, Bhusal added.
