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The UCPN-Maoist has formally split, with a faction led by Mohan Baidhya declaring a new party called the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist at a gathering of its principal cadres in Kathmandu the other day. The head of the newly formed party accused the main leadership of the mother party - the UCPN-Maoist - of deviating from the revolutionary ideology the party championed since it was founded, which ultimately caused the split. However, the leadership of the UCPN-Maoist has rejected this accusation and said that the splinter group was instigated and guided by the forces that wanted to weaken the communist movement in Nepal.
Whatever the accusations and counteraccusations labeled against one another, the fragmentation of the Maoist party is definitely unfortunate. Political parties are the asset of a country and their role is crucial in a multi-party democracy. A split in any political party is, thus, not a positive indication. Moreover, the Maoist party was the largest political force in the now dissolved Constituent Assembly, and many of its agendas were in the process of being institutionalised. The republican set up, federalism, secularism and proportionate electoral system and inclusive democracy were the agenda the Maoists raised. These agendas could not be formally institutionalised due to the failure to promulgate the new constitution.
Now there is no Constituent Assembly as it failed to deliver a new constitution for which it was formed. As a result, all the agendas of Jana Andolan II are now facing an uncertain future. Although fresh elections have been declared, the possibility of holding the polls on the announced date is uncertain. Even if a fresh election is held and another Constituent Assembly is formed, there is no guarantee that a new constitution would be promulgated. This situation has occurred due to the positional differences of the political parties. These perceptional and positional differences are also the reason for the fragmentation of the parties. There is internal fighting in all the political parties, and the process of fragmentation is strong in all of them. The split in the Maoist party is the latest example.
The split in the largest political force of the country may have serious repercussion on the ongoing political process. Nepal is in political transition, and this transition needs to be ended as early as possible, which requires unity and consensus among the political forces of the country. But the parties are in the process of further fragmentation, which is not good for the political health of the country. There are mistakes and flaws in both the factions of the Maoist party that resulted in the split. Other political parties now need to learn lessons from the turn of events in the UCPN-Maoist and keep their parties united and intact.
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