Kathmandu, Oct 28: Opposition parties are preparing to launch protests against the government immediately after the Chhath festival, with leftist parties taking the lead in building an anti-government alliance.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) and a former prime minister, has warned of a wave of protests after the Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals. He has accused the Balen Shah-led government of becoming increasingly indifferent to national sovereignty, social justice, economic prosperity and people’s livelihoods.
At a central coordination committee meeting on October 9, before Dashain, the NCP concluded that the government had become unpopular within six months of taking office. Prachanda argued that Prime Minister Shah had sidelined a faction within his own party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), raising questions about the government’s longevity.
The NCP has launched a national awareness campaign running from October 24 to December 11 to expose the government’s alleged failures and strengthen party organisation.
In its internal circular, the party pledged to work with other patriotic, democratic and leftist parties, groups and individuals on national sovereignty, democratic republicanism, livelihoods, good governance, social justice and national interests. It also called for cooperation with civil society, intellectuals, labour and farmers’ organisations, media groups and elected representatives.
Speaking at a press conference on October 24, Prachanda claimed that a new political situation would emerge in the country soon. He said national sovereignty was under threat and people’s democratic rights were at risk, signalling his readiness to join forces with like-minded groups to launch protests.
Prachanda ruled out an immediate merger with the CPN UML while leaving the door open for cooperation. Responding to questions about a possible resurgence of the leftist movement, he recalled that many had predicted its demise in 1990, when he had just become a party general secretary.
He said the Maoist insurgency, which began with just 60 people, eventually grew into a mass movement that helped bring republicanism to Nepal.
Meanwhile, CPN UML chair and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli has directed party leaders and cadres to intensify protests against the government. A central committee meeting in October concluded that the party faced attacks from multiple sides and needed a strong response both inside and outside parliament.
Having suffered major losses in the February parliamentary elections, opposition parties are seeking to capitalise on the government’s handling of national interests, social justice, good governance and economic prosperity, as well as controversial statements by ministers.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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