Prachanda likely to contest election from Rukum East

By Raju Lamichhane 

Rukum West, Jan. 11: Coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that he will contest the upcoming election from Rukum East. 

Addressing a Unity Message Assembly held at Barahatakura of Musikot Municipality-1, Rukum West, on Saturday, former Prime Minister Prachanda said he had made up his mind to contest the election from Rukum to remain closely connected with the local people. 

He added that following party unification, he wished to chart a new course for the development of Rukum.

Speaking in Rukum West, the home district of former Maoist Centre leader Janardan Sharma, Prachanda accused Sharma of betraying communist ideology and Marxism. 

He said Sharma’s mistakes had prompted the party to move forward by fielding young leader Gopal Sharma as a candidate, adding that the people of Rukum had found a leader capable of responsibly upholding the party’s ideology and principles.

Prachanda said the people of Rukum have demonstrated greater responsibility towards the party and have proven that they do not follow escapees. Recalling the mid-hill highway campaign, he said that although some leaders deserted at the time, the people of Rukum remained steadfast in their commitment to the party’s principles and ideology. 

Taking an apparent swipe at Janardan Sharma, who has joined a newly formed Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, Prachanda said the people of Rukum have not followed ‘defectionist’, anarchic or hypocritical forces.

Prachanda further said that the people of Rukum had played the role of frontline fighters during the "People’s War' and people’s movement. 

Stating that the country is currently facing an uncomfortable and extraordinary situation, he said that 17 left-wing parties have come together to build the strength needed to stabilise the situation. Speaking at the same programme, NCP Co-coordinator and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said the campaign for revolutionary unity has generated enthusiasm, confidence and hope across the country. 

He urged party cadres not to be distracted by what he described as reactionary forces spreading misinformation against the party.