Bhattarai "rightist-revisionist", Dahal "shaky-centirst":Baidya group

KIRAN PUN

KATHMANDU, Jan 20: As per their new organizational strategy, the Maoist hardliners will work to finish off the “rightist-revisionist trend” led by Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai, and drag Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who represents a “shaky centrist trend”, into the “revolutionary” fold.

The radicals led by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya charted out the strategy following their patch-up with Dahal in the recently concluded Central Committee (CC) meeting. 

In a separate cadre-orientation program in Kupandole on Wednesday, senior leaders of the party radical faction had directed the cadres to be ready for new roles in the changed circumstances. 

“With the recent revolutionary intervention, the possibility of centrists [led by Dahal] joining the revolutionary trend has increased. So we should not do anything to harass or offend the chairman. Now we should solely strike against the rightist opportunist trend [led by Bhattarai],” a participant of the program quoted General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa as saying. 

Thapa, who switched to Baidya faction lately, argued that the recently endorsed common proposal was a win-win for all in the party, but added that the new document is revolutionary in spirit. 

The Maoist hardliner was of the opinion that the way the other political parties “backed by India” were shocked at the recent Maoist stance was ample proof that the party has taken a revolutionary path. “Outside the party, we should launch struggles against South [India] and West [America],” a cadre quoted Baidya. 

He also argued that the party which was on the verge of split has transformed into a “joint front” and expressed confidence the party will be brought back onto the revolutionary track by May 28, the constitution drafting deadline. 

Baidya, Netra Bikram Chand and Dev Gurung also spoke during the program.

According to the participants, Baidya told the cadres that the differences with the party establishment should be dealt with in a friendly manner in the wake of the “revolutionary line” endorsed by the recent central committee. 

“Now there is no need to forge and implement parallel programs at the grassroots level,” a participant quoted Baidya. The Baidya faction has formed parallel committees and has been operating parallel programs at the grassroots level. 

He argued that the central committee decision has shocked the “expansionists and imperialists” and the party will vociferously raise the issue of national sovereignty. 

Party leader Chand had argued that the new intra-party dynamics has opened up new possibilities of split and unity and urged the revolutionaries to unite against the rightists and take the party ahead in a unified manner. He also told the cadres that the revolutionary line has become the official line of the party. 

Gurung, on the other hand, had argued that the NC and UML “backed by the US and India” are for reviving the constitution of 1990, and stated that the revolutionaries should unite to frame a “people´s constitution”.