Former leaders of the CPN (Maoist Centre), which merged with the CPN-UML to form the Nepal Communist Party, have voiced dissatisfaction at the selection of 200 members from their side for the new party’s central committee, calling the process “undemocratic”.

To the 441-member central body, the erstwhile UML faction sent 241 members quite systematically while Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the former Maoist supremo, faces the charges of selecting the remaining 200 members arbitrarily.

Disgruntled members say the party leadership should have set the selection criteria, which could have been the basis for the top leadership to justify its picks.

“Picking leaders without any criteria leaves a bad impression on the new party,” said leader Mani Thapa, claiming that people could raise questions about the democratic character of the new party.

A three-member team led by Dahal was authorised to select members for the NCP central committee from the Maoist side. The other members included Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Ram Bahadur Thapa.

Shrestha and Thapa are learnt to have entrusted Dahal with the selection while they would only make suggestions on his picks.

Leaders who failed to make it to the list of 200 have accused Dahal of favouring only those in his coterie. Those not on the list, according to knowledgeable sources, are aware that they have no alternative but to accept the decision. Their concern was only over the selection process that flouted democratic norms.

“It would have been easier to convince those not on the list had there been the selection criteria,” said leader Dev Gurung.

Leaders including Govinda Bahadur Batala, DP Dhakal, Parasmani Poudel, Mohan Hari Poudel, Jhalakpani Tiwari, Komal Baral and Shrikanta Adhikary could not find their place in the central committee.

“I have spent 23 long years for the party and lost my younger brother and sister in the People’s War. I was injured four times but I get no responsibility in the party today,” Batala expressed his feelings on social media.

The Maoist party had more than 4,000 members in its general convention organising committee formed after several splinter groups rejoined the mother party. Those dissatisfied at Dahal’s decision have demanded other responsibilities in the unified party.

Leaders asked to cement unity

Nepal Communist Party Co-chairmen KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal have directed central members to strive for achieving the government’s goal of prosperity with social justice.

At an informal meeting of the Central Committee held at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Thursday, the leaders stressed the need for optimum efforts for strengthening the bond between leaders of the erstwhile CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre).

The UML and the Maoist Centre formally unified last week, forming the NCP with an overwhelming majority in Parliament. In the 441-member Central Committee, 241 come from the erstwhile UML and the remaining 200 from the then Maoist Centre.

According to NCP Spokesman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Oli and Dahal directed the leaders to help manage the federal, provincial and local level governments in line with the stated policies. He added that the focus was on good governance and fighting corruption.

Shrestha said the meeting was organised to collect signatures of the Central Committee members for submitting them to the Election Commission for party registration.

The NCP had asked all the central members to be present without fail with a copy of their citizenship. The formal meeting of the NCP Central Committee will convene after getting EC recognition for the party body.

Committees and organisations of the old factions are in the process of becoming one. Three committees have been formed with a mandate to come up with appropriate suggestions within 15 days for smoothening the process.