UCPN (Maoist) mulls forming local fronts to keep watch on govt activities

KATHMANDU, June 10: The UCPN (Maoist) is mulling formation of joint fronts at the district and village levels to keep a watch on government activities.



A report prepared by Krishna Bahadur Mahara-led task force on Saturday recommended forming such fronts and implementing “one person one post policy” in the party committees. The report was submitted at the central committee meeting of the party held at the party headquarters in Paris Danda. [break]



The report, however, has not explained the necessity for forming such fronts.



During the conflict, then CPN (Maoist) had run parallel government across the country. After the peace process began, political parties had formed the joint political mechanisms in absence of elected local representatives. Currently, the local bodies are run by civil servants.



The taskforce also recommended only two terms for party office bearers. Currently, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, vice-chairmen duo Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha and General Secretary Post Bahadur Bogati are the office bearers of the party. Similarly, the taskforce recommend that a leader should retire from politics after crossing 65 years of age. If such a policy is implemented, the new generation will get a chance to lead the party. But Maoist leaders are not hopeful that such a policy would be implemented.



Similarly, the taskforce also recommended downsizing the party committees only after the Constituent Assembly election. The state level committees of the party are big enough making committee meetings impractical.



“If we downsize the party committees before the election, it would adversely affect the party in the upcoming CA polls,” said a member of the taskforce.



Similarly, a central committee member of the party said, “It is not possible to implement the one person one post policy because the top leaders themselves are holding two or more than two posts,” said a central committee member. He said the proposal has been brought to the central committee only because the top leaders are being widely criticized for leading a luxurious lifestyle and neglecting the cadres.



The taskforce has also recommended a 151-member full CC and 248-member alternative CC. It has also recommended a 17-member standing committee, 51-member politburo and 26-member alternative politburo.



During the meeting, Dahal briefed about the welcome he received during his China and India visit without dwelling on the political agendas. “Chairman Dahal sang his own praises during the meeting,” said a member of CC.

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