By Ammara Farooq

Maoist Centre chair’s recent active maneuvers to build a left alliance in the name of socialist center cause disturbance with its former rebel leader’s latest stratagem. CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Dahal knows how to keep others on bay. Despite the commitment by the Nepali Congress, the leader of the ruling coalition of which the Maoist Centre is a key partner. CPN (Maoist Centre) chair has a close eye on his recent maneuvers.

Of course and is cautious concerning recent developments after CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s active initiatives to create a left alliance in the name of socialist center. Since the Nepali Congress has decided to aim for a majority from the next elections. CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s desperation has increased and he is now working to create a new front.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s left front idea as of now is minus the UML. Many understand this as his tactic to keep both the Congress and UML in check. A Congress central member said until CPN (Maoist Centre) chair wants to rope in CPN (Unified Socialist), a party formed after splitting from the UML, and Janata Samajbadi Party, by keeping the UML out.

The Janata Samajbadi, however, does not appear to be interested in CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s left front. And is not keen on being part of a new political front that is emerging as a mini-alliance within the ruling coalition,” said a leader close to Yadav. Anyway the idea looks far-fetched.

After separating ties with the Maoist Centre in 2015, Bhattarai had made Naya Shakti, which he amalgamated with Janata Samajbadi party in 2019. Amid the advances, a careful Congress trusts as long as CPN (Maoist Centre) chair does not join hands with the UML, it will be comfortable in the upcoming elections due later this year.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair is clearly trying to make a tricky bargain. He has even spoken of distribution the prime minister-ship by turns. If he starts a left front, seat-sharing will be even easier, at least for the Congress. A Congress valuation of the future polls proposes the party can win at least 77 out of 165 seats under the direct election system if parties fight elections self-sufficiently, without any associations.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair has a propensity to change sides whenever he sees benefit for himself. In 2017, he abandoned the Congress to join hands with the UML. When he fell out with UML, he came to the Congress last year for a salvage.

As of now, the UML seems extremely reluctant to accommodate CPN (Maoist Centre) chair but has not ruled out an alliance if he abandons his association with the Congress.

Maoist leaders, meanwhile, say the Congress need not fear about the creation of a new political front that rejects the UML. The source of fear in the Nepali Congress is that we may unite with the UML. We are not going to do so. The UML has not abandoned its regressive political ideology. There are no prospects of our party uniting with the UML.

The Maoist Centre’s political objective is yet to be achieved and the socialist center idea looks good to establish what it really purposes for and always been viewed as an unbalanced political force. Some leaders blame them for being opportunist too. However through its fresh political maneuvering Maoist Centre’s desires to establish that it is a steady political force.

The chairman is taking this step of forming socialist center so as to give clarity to what he actually want to achieve. The essential aim is to make a new trustworthy and reliable political front. Some Nepali Congress leaders have the reservations that Nepal cannot bear so many political parties and only three political parties or forces Nepali Congress, UML and a socialist alliance are enough.

A section of the Nepali Congress believes that the making of a new socialist front or alliance will not come as a disadvantage for the Congress. Since incumbent prime minster and CPN (Maoist Centre) chair share good working relationship. It seems prime minster is more self-assured about the Maoist chair.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair was in Delhi last week on a three-day visit. It was during his stay in Delhi he said that the issue of prime minister-ship on a rotational basis will be discussed. Congress General Secretary said that he has not gone into details of CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s plan of a new front.

The creation of such an alliance may, however, put pressure on the Nepali Congress. Congress is keeping a close watch on how this new political front emerges and what difference it will make in national politics. The idea of a socialist center is CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s last resort to remain relevant. The rest of his plan will become clear only when it takes a form practically.