Prachanda faces revolt, charged with 145;revisionism146;

With a revolt brewing in the rank and file of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal Maoist against Prime Minister and party chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal 8216;Prachanda8217;, the country8217;s first post-monarchical government is facing its most serious crisis since it came to power in August. An overwhelming majority of the party is reportedly closing ranks against Prime Minister and Party Chief, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 8216;Prachanda8217; accusing him of being a 8216;revisionist8217; and 8216;pro-power8217;.

There are speculations that Prachanda might be reduced to a minority when the Party holds its three-day national conference beginning November 10. At the heart of the controversy is senior ideologue Mohan Baidhya8217;s proposal that a 8216;people8217;s republic8217; is the immediate and not the long-term goal of the party as stated by Prachanda. Baidhya8217;s proposal is slated to come up at the conference and a victory for Baidhya will have serious implications not only for Prachanda8217;s leadership but also the country8217;s recent changeover to a federal republic. Incidentally, the decision to call the national conference was taken by the central committee two weeks ago where at least eight of its 11 members chose to side with Mohan Baidhya and a prominent party leader told The Indian Express that 8216;we are sure to win8217;.

Baidhya8217;s paper challenges Prachanda8217;s line that a 8216;democratic republic8217; alone could bring other political parties together with the Maoists. Baidhya asserts that the ideal of the people8217;s republic could not be compromised as thousands of youths had shed their blood for it. What has made Prachanda8217;s case weaker is that stalwarts like C P Gajurel and Matrika Yadav besides some Maoist ministers have also sided with Baidhya who clearly wants state control over the economy and one party rule. Baidhya8217;s assertion of state control over the economy is in stark contrast to the invitation that Prime Minister Prachanda and Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai extended to prospective investors, including multi-national companies, promising them a conducive atmosphere. On the political front, Baidhya proposes that while multiple parties can operate in the country, the system of politics would not be a parliamentary democracy. 8220;There will be one single major political party in the Centre and all others have to compete within the framework and norms set by that big party8221;, Baidhya8217;s proposal , that seems to have the approval of the majority of the central committee of the 800-member national conference members, says.