Nepal’s former PM Prachanda calls for unity among all communist forces

In the March 5 general election, the combined strength of the two large communist parties managed to win only 42 seats in the House of Representatives. The CPN-UML won 25 seats while the Nepali Communist Party won 17 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.

Former Prime Minister and coordinator of Nepali Communist Party Pushpakamal Dahal ''Prachanda,'' has underscored the need for unity among the communist forces in the country. Speaking at the 26th Nirmal Lama Memorial Programme organised at the party's office in Kathmandu on Sunday, Prachanda said: ''Voice has been raised from the grassroot level that all communists should join hands at this moment.'' The voice for communist unity is being raised in all communist parties and among the general public as well, he pointed out, adding that it has ''become essential to forge unity among the true communist forces.'' Prachanda also claimed that the communist forces have been defeated in the recently concluded elections as per a ''greater design'' without naming anyone. In the March 5 general election, the combined strength of the two large communist parties managed to win only 42 seats in the House of Representatives. The CPN-UML won 25 seats while the Nepali Communist Party won 17 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by Rabi Lamichhane, secured almost two-thirds(182) of the total seats, while the Nepali Congress secured 38 seats.