Nine Leftist Parties, Including Maoist Centre and Unified Socialist, to Unite Today

KATHMANDU, Nov 5
Nine leftist political parties, including the CPN (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist), are set to announce their long-discussed unification at a mass gathering in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, on Wednesday. The event will begin with a public rally followed by the official unification ceremony scheduled for 1 PM.

The newly unified force will be called the Nepali Communist Party and will use a five-pointed star as its election symbol. According to the unification committee, the party will hold its national general convention within six months.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal will serve as the coordinator, and Madhav Kumar Nepal as the co-coordinator. The party’s guiding philosophy will be based on Marxism-Leninism.

The factions coming together include:

• CPN (Maoist Centre)
• CPN (Unified Socialist)
• Nepal Samajbadi Party
• CPN (Socialist)
• Janasamajwadi Party Nepal
• Nepal Communist Party
• CPN (Maoist Socialist)
• CPN (Samyabadi)

In addition, the Deshbhakta Samajbadi Morcha, led by Gopal Kirati, has joined the alliance after eight parties signed the agreement on Sunday.

On Tuesday, the National Convention Organizing Committee of the Maoist Centre officially endorsed the decision to move ahead with the merger.

However, the unification bid has not been without controversy.
Within the Maoist Centre, a faction led by Janardan Sharma has announced a separate political campaign opposing the move. Similarly, prominent leaders from the Unified Socialist — including Jhalanath Khanal, Ghanashyam Bhusal, and Ramkumari Jhankri — have expressed strong reservations about the merger.

Meanwhile, Maoist Centre coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal said discussions are in the final phase to include other leftist leaders such as former UML leader Bhim Rawal in the unification process.