Maoist general secretary aspirants: Gurung’s ‘entry’ too

KATHMANDU: JAN. 3 – Today, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) is completing the central office-bearers. The Maoist Center has called a meeting of the newly elected central members at 3 p.m. at Heritage Plaza in Lalitpur. A meeting of the standing committee would be held prior to the meeting of the central committee, according to spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

The Maoist center’s constitution calls for a 15-member central office-bearer council. The meeting today includes finalizing the office bearers, including the chairperson, in accordance with the constitution. No party has stepped forward to oppose Pushpa Kamal Dahal, often known as Prachanda, for the position of chairperson. However, applicants for the position of secretary-general continue to be added.

Leader Dev Gurung’s name has been added to the list of aspirants for General Secretary. Previously, the list included just Barshaman Pun, Janardhan Sharma, and Pampha Bhusal. Pun, Sharma, and Bhusal exchange glances. There are reports that they will not accept each other as the general secretary of the party. They have even begun to establish their own factions, according to the leaders.

Prachanda is thought to be capable of appointing a leader other than these three as secretary-general. Previously, leader Shakti Basnet informed leaders close to him that he wanted to be secretary-general. Therefore, it is analyzed that if Prachanda has to win over Pun, Sharma and Bhusal, he can win over Basnet. That is why, when the General Convention was coming to a close, the name Basnet appeared unexpectedly. When Pun and Sharma battled previously, Prachanda appointed Basnet as Home Minister in the KP Sharma Oli-led government in 2072 BS.

Even now, when there is similar internal rivalry and dissension between Pun, Sharma and Bhusal, it has been analyzed in the party circles that Prachanda will adopt the same policy.

Gurung’s name has been added to the list of aspirants for General Secretary. Gurung’s claim is strong, according to high-ranking Maoist sources. A newly-elected central member of the Maoists said, “I understand that the name of him (Dev Gurung) has also been discussed in the leadership. Speaking of possibilities, it seems that he will become the secretary-general. I can’t say that. ‘