Prachanda States Leftist Movement Weakened by Power Struggles

Kathmandu. CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the leftist movement has been weakened by getting entangled in the strategy of making and breaking power. He said this while addressing a program organized in Kathmandu on Monday on the occasion of the 24th Botle Memorial Day. Prachanda said that the communist movement has suffered a setback due to involvement in power-centric games. He said that the leftist movement was on the right track until the promulgation of the constitution, but the current situation has arisen because the strategy was abandoned after taking the leadership of the government after the constitution was formed. Prachanda urged to focus on connecting the party and the people in the journey towards socialism. 'We started making and breaking the Prime Minister. We got caught up in the work of making and breaking the government. Leaders started staying in the district headquarters and cities. We became focused on becoming Prime Minister and ministers in the center. The effect of that also went to the provinces and local levels. We got busy with tactics, but strategy remained only on paper. That's where we faltered, that's where the mistake happened,' Prachanda said. He clarified that the leftist movement has weakened due to not understanding the strategy of the second enemy. He asserted that although feudalism and imperialism were defeated before the constitution was formed, problems arose due to not being able to review tactics and strategy differently afterwards. He said that the tendency to praise when other leftists unite but criticize them to the point of ruin when they do not unite is not right. Prachanda urged not to think with the extremist idea that all disputes are too sharp to be resolved. He also said that there is no alternative to the leftist forces standing together, as the country, constitution, and republic are in crisis. He said that no one can evade by showing past disputes when it is time to analyze the concrete situation concretely. He urged not to interpret the three-point agreement between UML and Maoist Centre as the party itself being united. Stating that UML, Congress, and Maoist Centre are all caught in a political vortex, he said that the current government has done half the work and the remaining work needs to be done by them to fulfill the needs of the country. Prachanda urged not to keep the agreement between UML and Maoist Centre in ambiguity, as cooperation with the leftists will be with whoever is currently in the leadership. 'The issue of leadership change is up to UML, that's their business. But Oli is currently the leader. According to the needs of the country, cooperation will be with whoever is in the leadership. Therefore, if the leftist parties unite and move forward, we can achieve victory again in the upcoming elections. No one needs to be disappointed,' Prachanda said.