CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the outcome of the local elections shows that his party has still a lot to do to win the hearts of people.

The Maoist Centre did not garner more votes in comparison to other major parties because the party failed to win people over, the leader admitted at a programme organised by the party in Gorkha on Wednesday.

Over the years the Maoist Centre has ceased to become the people’s party, he said. “The activists of our party are close with notorious contractors than they are with ordinary people. That is why the Maoist Centre could not do well in the elections.” 

Dahal also seemed to regret a series of breakups that marred the party ever since joining the mainstream politics after putting down the arms in 2006.

“The party’s vision of people’s revolution has not lost though,” he said. “We are not trying to achieve this vision by raising arms, but by winning over people’s hearts, by winning elections.” 

The Maoist Centre leader urged the party cadres to give up their personal interests and strive towards becoming the country’s leading political force by working for the people.