Nationwide Support for the Party Has Grown: Prachanda

Kathmandu – Pushpa Kamal Dahal, commonly known as Prachanda, the leader of the CPN (Maoist Centre), has claimed that the party has gained widespread public support across the country. He attributes this to the strong actions taken by his government against corruption and for ensuring good governance.

Speaking at the 23rd National Conference of the All Nepal National Independent Student Union (Revolutionary) today, Prachanda highlighted the increased attraction towards his party. He urged his supporters to build on this momentum and work towards becoming the leading party in the upcoming elections.

Prachanda stressed that during his time in office, his government fought hard against major corruption cases, including the Bansbari land scandal and the return of Baluwatar land. He also pointed to the significant action taken against those involved in the fake Bhutanese refugee case, calling it an unprecedented move in the country’s history.

He argued that his stance against middlemen and corrupt brokers led to his removal from the government. However, Prachanda sees this as an opportunity, stating that leaving the government allowed him to return to the people in a victorious manner.

Referring to his time in power, Prachanda claimed his government launched a "war" on corruption and took bold steps that disrupted vested interests. He expressed confidence that with the people’s support, his party could turn the situation around in just a few months.

He recalled similar challenges faced during the civil war, where there were attempts to destroy the Maoist movement, but they managed to break through those barriers. He suggested that even today, attempts are being made to corner the movement, but they will continue to fight back.

Prachanda accused the two major parties in the parliament of trying to undo the achievements that were made through the sacrifices of the people. He believes that revolutionary forces could force a change from the streets.

He also spoke about his government’s achievements in infrastructure development, including key decisions on the Mid-Hill Highway, North-South Corridor, and the Madan Bhandari Highway, with some of these projects nearing completion.

During his second term as Prime Minister, Prachanda claimed to have ended power cuts and provided light to the nation, and in his third term, significant progress was made in anti-corruption measures, governance, and social justice. He urged the student organisation to communicate these achievements to the people.

He hinted at the possibility of a new leftist alliance soon and expressed optimism that upcoming meetings of the central committee would make history by resolving the current political complexities in the country.

Lastly, Prachanda encouraged the student organisation to operate within the party’s principles while maintaining autonomy, and where consensus cannot be reached, to elect new leadership through democratic processes.

Prachanda concluded by reflecting on his third term as Prime Minister, describing it as a historic period marked by efforts to promote good governance, social justice, and economic prosperity. He believes his fight against corruption led to his removal from office, but it was a necessary step to clean up Nepal’s political landscape.