UCPN (Maoist) for ‘bottom-up’ approach

KATHMANDU, DEC 24 -
The UCPN (Maoist) is preparing to adopt a ‘bottom-up’ approach to revamp its organisational structure with a conclusion that the weak party base was the main reason behind its humiliating defeat in the November 19 election.

Stressing the need to strengthen the party at the grassroots level, a UCPN (M) Politburo meeting on Monday proposed that the party’s organisational structure at village, municipality, district and state committees be formed through an election.

The majority of the politburo members were of the view that the party should call a general convention to elect its central structures such as Central Committee, Politburo, Standing Committee and office bearer only after a strong organisational structure is in place. “We are holding discussion to prepare a concrete policy,” said Maoist leader Devendra Poudel.  “Once the Central Committee endorses the proposal we will start work to re-strengthen the party structure.”

The Bhattarai faction has been putting pressure on Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to publicly self-criticise for the party’s poor show in the election. The party came third with 26 seats under the first-past-the-post category and 54 seats under the proportional representation system.

According to leaders, party’s failure to transform the war-era organisational structure to peaceful politics was a major reason for its poor performances in the election.

The party’s 7th general convention in February had decided to call the next general convention to settle the organisational structure. At the time, the party re-elected Dahal as chairman but nominated convention representatives. After it adopted the line of peace and constitution, an influx of cadres and leaders from other parties joined the UCPN (M) but the party failed to keep them busy. 

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