China Intensifying Tactics to Unite Nepal’s Communist Parties before Prachanda’s China Trip

Ahead of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s visit to China, concerted efforts have been made to unite the various communist parties in Nepal. The CPN Maoist Center, CPN Unified Socialist Party, along with Netra Bikram Chand (Biplab) and Mohan Baidya, have initiated steps towards consolidating the communist components.

Sources reveal that the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, in coordination with the Ambassador and a group of intellectuals from the Chinese Communist Party in Nepal, has been discreetly working towards this unification. Notably, this group has been engaging high-level leaders, including former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, former Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota, Maoist Center leader Barshaman Pun, and National Assembly Speaker Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, who is currently on a visit to China.

In line with these developments, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song has been actively participating in political meetings. Sources suggest that during the tenure of the united communist government, China aims to accomplish plans that were previously hindered during the CPN era, including aspects of trade, security, defense, as well as treaties and agreements.

Recently, Prime Minister Prachanda responded to an invitation from Liu Jianchao, the head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Chinese Communist Party, who had visited Nepal. Prachanda expressed his intention to visit China in the next month or early August. This announcement follows the visit of a team of leaders from the Maoist Center who had recently returned from China. Agni Prasad Sapkota, one of the Maoist leaders who was part of the delegation, confirmed that he had conveyed Prachanda’s desire to the Chinese side.

Before that, the discussion on unification between the communist parties in Nepal has intensified. Recently, there have been efforts to bring together parties such as the Maoist Center, CPN-US, Biplav, and Baidya leadership. In relation to this, Chairman of the Maoist Center and Prime Minister Prachanda, Chairman of CPN-US Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman of NSP Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Biplav, and other leaders also held a discussion at the Prime Minister’s Residence in Baluwatar on Friday.

According to sources aligned with the Maoist , the objective is to initiate unity by forming a Socialist front and subsequently establish the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). The anticipated announcement of this front is expected to occur around or shortly after mid-June. The decision made during the upcoming meeting of the Central Committee of the Maoist Center in June will also play a significant role in shaping the formation of this front. Furthermore, this front will actively pursue unification with the CPN-UML and endeavor to revive the then Communist Party of Nepal (CPN).

CPN-US Chairman and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has publicly called for the revival of the erstwhile Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Speaking at the first district convention of CPN (Unified Socialist) Bhaktapur held in Bhaktapur on Saturday, he expressed his willingness to revive the CPN.

“Our party has no intention of merging with another party. Some people may speculate about a possible merger with UML. However, even within UML, there is unrest and disagreement. If we were to merge, it would be to revive the old party,” he emphasized. “I invite Prachandaji to join hands, and together, we can revitalize the Nepal Communist Party CPN. Will KPji be ready? Let us reawaken the Nepal Communist Party CPN.”

After UML removed the age limit of 70 years, National Assembly lawmaker and former Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam is also ready to join CPN (UML). Following UML’s decision to suspend the age limit for the party’s executive post, he expressed his willingness to return to UML along with his friends.

The Chinese side has consistently shown interest in the unity of communist parties in Nepal. They actively participated in the formation of the former CPN and sent high-level leaders to Nepal multiple times for this purpose. Even during the potential split of the CPN, the then Chinese ambassador to Nepal, Hou Yanqi, made significant efforts to prevent it.

During the presidential election, Chinese ambassador Chen Song also played a crucial role in preventing the collapse of the ruling coalition. At that time, the alliance consisted of the Maoist, UML, RSP, and RPP. Ambassador Song met with Prime Minister Prachanda, UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli, CPN (US) Chairman Madhav Nepal, and others in order to prevent the collapse. This was crucial as UML and Maoist were the two main components of the former CPN.

However, Ambassador Song’s efforts were unsuccessful, and the Maoists formed a new alliance with the Congress party. Once again, China has shown interest in a communist alliance and unification, which seems to be in preparation for Prime Minister Prachanda’s visit to China.