KATHMANDU: Former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun is certain to return to active politics. Pun, who served as Vice President of the country for nearly a decade, had formally renounced his CPN (Maoist Center) membership during his tenure due to constitutional obligations. However, sources close to him say that he is not inclined to lead an inactive life.
Maoist Center leaders claim that Pun recently attended a party meeting at the request of Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal who is keen on bringing Pun back into the political fold. Pun attended the meeting of the party’s office-bearers held at Dahal’s residence on November 11 as a guest.
Maoist Center Secretary Dilaram Acharya said the party has not yet decided on the position to be offered to Pun. However, a senior Maoist Center leader told Himal Press that Dahal has offered the position of the vice-chairperson to Pun. “As a former Vice President, Pun believes he should be the second-ranked leader in the party,” he said. “However, the proposal from the leadership is for him to take the role of vice-chairperson.”
Balancing Internal Power Dynamics
The plan to bring Pun back into party politics has sparked debate within the Maoist Center. While some leaders argue that it would be inappropriate for the former Vice President to return to active politics, others are justifying his potential return. “It would be appropriate for him to come back to active politics. Living off state facilities without being politically active won’t be appropriate,” said Maoist Center leader Ram Karki.
Karki, however, said that the party has not held any formal decision on Pun’s return to the party fold.
Some leaders believe that Dahal sees Pun as a solution to fill gaps left by inactive leaders like Vice-chairperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara. Mahara has been sidelined from active politics due to health issues and controversies.
“Pun can play a coordinating role in the party. This is why the chairperson is pushing to bring him back,” said another Maoist Center leader.
Mahara’s absence has also stalled unity talks with leaders like Netra Bikram Chand ‘Biplav’ of the Nepal Communist Party. Biplav has publicly criticized Dahal’s indecision and lack of urgency in pursuing unification.
Pun’s potential return is also seen as Dahal’s strategy to balance power struggles between lower-tier leaders, specifically Deputy General Secretaries Barsha Man Pun and Janardan Sharma, who reportedly have strained relations. Sharma had even presented a dissenting report against Chairperson Dahal during the Standing Committee meeting in July.
Leaders close to Dahal say the Maoist Center Chairperson sees Pun as a figure who can stabilize these internal conflicts.
Narayankaji’s Dissent
Senior Vice-chairperson Narayankaji Shrestha is reportedly dissatisfied with Dahal for offering the position of vice chairperson to Pun. Shrestha sees the potential appointment as a threat to his standing within the party. To address his concern, Dahal is mulling over bringing Amik Sherchan back into active politics.
Sherchan, a former leader of the CPN (Masal) faction and two-time province chief, is a close ally of Shrestha. By offering Sherchan a vice-chairperson role, Dahal hopes to appease Narayankaji and ensure internal stability in the party.
Shrestha has previously emphasized the need to uphold organizational dignity in response to Pun’s planned re-entry into the party fold. Meanwhile, some leaders claim that Pun criticizes Shrestha for engaging in “opportunistic politics”. This is why Maoist Center leaders believe the two will have a strained relationship.
Amendment to Party Constitution
The Maoist Center is preparing to amend its constitution to prepare space for more leaders in its office-bearers. A task force, led by Shrestha and comprising General Secretary Dev Prasad Gurung, and Deputy General Secretaries Barsha Man Pun and Janardan Sharma, has drafted a proposal to increase the number of office-bearers.
The Maoist Center currently has one senior vice-chairperson, three vice-chairpersons, one general secretary, six deputy general secretaries, nine secretaries and one treasurer.
Dahal is bent on increasing the number of office-bearers before the party’s general convention. He has been delaying the central committee meeting to finalize these preparations.
Party insiders say that no meetings at any of the three key levels of the party – the Politburo, Standing Committee, or office bearers – are convened without Dahal’s nod.
