“Things have undergone a sea change since the launch of the people´s war in 1996. We therefore have to adopt the policy of peace and constitution as per the changed context,” a participant quoted Dahal as telling the cadres loyal to him at a closed door gathering at Global Hotel, Bharatpur, Chitwan. [break]“If any of the comrades refuse to acknowledge this reality and insist on going for a revolt, they may choose to quit the party.”
Earlier, Dahal had described the party´s current policy just as a tactical line in the fight for further achievements. In the past, he had assured the cadres that the party would establish a new democracy in the long run.
Only party´s Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai had been saying that the establishment of new democracy wasn´t possible under the present circumstances. Bhattarai had advocated for economic revolution to pave the way for socialism. Dahal´s latest remarks have made it clear that he has now accepted Bhattari´s policy.
However, the rival Baidya faction -- led by Senior Vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya and backed by party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa -- has been insisting on the need for revolt and establishment of a new democracy in the country.
The Baidya faction has accused Dahal and Bhattarai of surrendering to the reactionaries and betraying the party cadres. The faction has also accused Dahal and Bhattarai of aborting the party´s movement and only making it a tool for the formation of a Maoist-led government.
Dahal´s remarks come at a time when the factional feud has deepened with the Baidya faction tightening the screws on the former.
Dahal holds separate gatherings, Baidya faction irked
Meanwhile, the party chairman´s separate gatherings have irked the Baidya faction even as Dahal has made commitments to settle the intra-party dispute by incorporating dissent opinions.
Addressing a function organized to pay tributes to Dahal´s father Muktiram, the chairman vowed to keep the party unity intact.
Both Dahal and Baidya had agreed to cancel their separate gatherings only a few days ago.
But Dahal held gatherings of party cadres loyal to him from Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Gorkha and Kaski districts during his stay in Chitwan.
“He committed to not to encourage factionalism but held separate gatherings later in the evening the same day,” said the party´s assistant in-charge in the district Shova Kattel, who is close to Baidya faction. Also, Anil Sharma Birahi, the district in-charge, said he was unaware of any gathering. “I am unaware of such a gathering. I am not informed because those who are close to the party chairman might have organized it,” he said.
However, another assistant in-charge in the district Ghanshyam Dahal from the Dahal faction claimed that all the party members were informed about the gathering. “All were informed but it was up to them to attend or not,” he said.
While Dahal faction was busy holding separate gatherings, members from rival factions have remained busy launching their own campaigns secretly.
“We have no option but to counter them because the party chairman himself is involved in dividing the party,” said a Maoist student leader Lal Bahadur Tamang.
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