KATHMANDU: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal often claims that he and his party stand for progress, federalism and are fully committed to democracy. He is never tired of saying that Maoists are a revolutionary force led by the youth.
However, there are complaints that old leaders dominate the party by sidelining youth. Party leaders allege that although youth are appointed to key positions, they are not given any responsibility.
The party had decided to manage the leaders of its student wing, All Nepal National Free Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNFSU-R), who exceeded the age limit (32 years), by integrating them into the party with responsibilities. According to this plan, former vice-presidents to general secretaries of the organization were to be made central representatives, deputy general secretaries were to become provincial secretariat members, and secretaries to treasurers were promised provincial committee member roles.
A task force led by Deputy General Secretary Shakti Basnet, including the student wing in-charge Himal Sharma and former ANNFSU-R Chairperson Pancha Singh, had recommended that the party assign befitting responsibilities to outgoing student leaders. However, a meeting of the Maoist Center’s office-bearers held last week deferred the task force’s recommendation for promotions but accepted the proposal for transfer.
The Central Committee meeting in January had decided to integrate former student leaders into the party. However, last week’s meeting of office bearers decided to defer the Central Committee’s decision.
Maoist Center leader Himal Sharma has termed the decision as “regressive and strange”.
The same meeting appointed former Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, who had given up party responsibility, as a central committee member, standing committee member and vice-chairperson. This decision has sparked opposition within the party.
In the Central Committee meeting held in January, most of the central committee members had requested Pun not to return to active politics. Chairperson Dahal had said in the meeting that it was “Pun’s decision, not his”.
Earlier, former Speakers Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Agni Prasad Sapkota also returned to active politics. Both are now serving as the party vice chairperson.
Youth leaders say the Central Committee has become bloated and youth have been denied party responsibilities to accommodate these leaders.
Nirmala Gautam, a deputy general secretary of the ANNFSU-R, said it is wrong for the former Vice President of the country to return to the party.
Meanwhile, the decision to block the progression of youth leaders has fueled dissent within the party. Former student leader Pawan Karki accused the party of sidelining the youth. “Young comrades, who dedicated decades of their energetic lives to the party organization, have been denied proper responsibilities. The recent party circular contradicts the decisions taken by the meetings of the Central Committee and office bearers held in January, which were made public through a party circular in February,” Karki said. “I urge the party leadership to immediately rectify this and implement the Central Committee’s decision by ensuring responsibilities for all comrades exiting the student wing due to age limits.”
Karki added that he will draw the attention of Chairperson Dahal to this issue.
Earlier, the task force had recommended that the party appoint these student leaders as alternative central committee members. However, the recent meeting of office bearers said that the recommendation cannot be implemented.
“The party did not accept our recommendations,” Sharma said. “It was not a promotion, but a mere adjustment of leaders exiting the party’s student wing.”
Previously, the task force had recommended making older leaders alternative central members, but the office bearers’ meeting rejected this, stating it couldn’t be implemented, according to Himal Sharma.
Maoist Center General Secretary Dev Gurung has assured that the issue will be resolved.
