Maoist Centre’s Statute Convention: Three-Day Event to Kick Off Next Month

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) is set to convene its statute convention in Kathmandu next month. The decision was reached during a meeting of the party’s Standing Committee held on Saturday, marking a significant step towards defining the party’s future trajectory.

Scheduled to commence on February 13, the three-day event will take place at the Academy Hall in Kamaladi, Kathmandu, attracting approximately 1,300 party representatives from all corners of the country. The primary objective of this national gathering is to finalize the party’s statute, a document that holds paramount importance in shaping the ideological and operational framework of the Maoist Centre.

Ganesh Shah, the party’s secretary, highlighted the significance of the upcoming convention. “The statute convention will endorse the party’s statute after discussions,” Shah stated, emphasizing the democratic and participatory nature of the decision-making process within the party. It is worth noting that the Maoist Centre’s previous general convention in December 2021 primarily concentrated on selecting party leadership, prompting the leaders to convene a separate assembly for statute-related discussions and endorsements.

However, the path leading to the fixed date for the convention was marked by delays, spanning over two years. The central committee meeting held in August had initially decided to hold the statute convention by mid-December, with a subsequent special general convention planned six months later. This timeline experienced a two-month setback.

Shah informed that a draft of the statute had been submitted to the party’s Standing Committee, undergoing discussions at various levels before presentation and endorsement at the convention. To facilitate this process, a seven-member statute draft committee was formed last month, led by Vice-chair Pampha Bhusal. Other members include General Secretary Dev Prasad Gurung, deputy general secretaries Giriraj Mani Pokharel, Barsha Man Pun, and Janardan Sharma, along with secretaries Ganesh Shah and Surendra Karki.

“The draft statute will be discussed from the central to the ward levels. All suggestions received from across the country will be presented at the convention,” Shah emphasized, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the consultation process. The proposed statute envisions a 151-member central committee, a departure from the current structure with over 600 members. If endorsed, the party will feature distinct structures at the central level, including the central committee, politburo, standing committees, and office bearers. Additionally, separate committees will be established at the provincial, municipal, and ward levels.

While the draft committee envisions specific positions within its committees, such as chairperson, vice-chairperson, general secretary, secretary, and treasurer, the exact numbers remain undecided. Shah clarified, “We have left it to the convention to decide their number,” highlighting the commitment to a democratic decision-making process within the party.