Dahal says cadres don’t want him to step down as party chair

KATHMANDU: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal said there is immense pressure from the rank and file not to step down from leadership right now.

Speaking at a press conference in Nepalgunj on Sunday, Dahal said he does not believe leadership transfer or generational change will happen immediately upon his departure from the party. “I don’t need to remain in leadership forever. The chairmanship isn’t indispensable for me,” Dahal said. “But the party chairmanship isn’t something that can be handed easily. I am preparing a system and method to groom a successor.”

Dahal also claimed that he has no desire to remain as chairperson. “Now, I don’t have the desire to remain the party chairman. For me, being known as Prachanda (Dahal’s nom de guerra of the insurgency days)  is greater than being the chairperson,” he said.

Indicating that the party has launched a nationwide campaign to strengthen itself, he mentioned that based on consultations in provincial-level gatherings, they aim to move forward by making the party unified and cohesive. “Our party is united; the talk of party split is baseless,” he said, “One doesn’t become a leader just like that. Leadership is established over a long period, and now we’re preparing for leadership transfer.”

Dahal also accused the two major parties, the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, of forcefully removing him from the prime minister’s position despite his good performance.