Nepal Maoists patch up, Bhattarai back in fold

The bitter feud among Prachanda and Bhattarai became public a month ago when the former accused Bhattarai of being 8216;8216;India8217;s man8217;8217;, which Bhattarai countered with the accusation that 8216;8216;only the King8217;s people can say that8217;8217;.

But as Bhattarai is the only public face of the party, he was officially assigned to rush to Delhi and establish contact with leaders of Nepal8217;s seven pro-democracy political parties during their scheduled visit there.

Dr Bhattarai, following India8217;s behind-the-scene mediation, reached an understanding with the parties that they would be launching a joint struggle to find a democratic way out of the current stalemate in Nepal.

Prachanda said the party was going to consolidate its position on the basis of renewed unity, struggle and self-criticism for mistakes and at the same time undertake to unite all the political forces against the absolute monarchy.

He, however, made it clear that no one in the party would have the freedom to air internal issues in public, indicating that Dr Bhattarai would not have the liberty to write in the media without being assigned by the party.

In fact, today8217;s statement is consistent with the one issued last week as it reiterates that the Maoists are willing to hold a dialogue with the political parties to find a democratic way out to the decade-long conflict in Nepal 8216;8216;in deference to the people8217;s wishes for peace and progress8217;8217;.