KATHMANDU, Nepal – In a swift and decisive move, the newly formed “Nepali Communist Party,” an amalgamation of ten major leftist parties, has formally applied for registration with the Election Commission of Nepal on the very day of its creation. This immediate action underscores the party’s intent to establish itself as a legitimate and prompt political force ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The unification, formalized at a declaration conference on Wednesday, brings together influential groups led by former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Madhav Kumar Nepal. The leaders inaugurated the conference by jointly pressing a remote button, symbolizing the start of a new political chapter.
The newly formed party announced a nine-point agreement, selecting Pushpa Kamal Dahal as its Coordinator and Madhav Kumar Nepal as the Co-coordinator. Senior leader Jhalanath Khanal will hold the third-ranking position in the new structure.
According to Govinda Acharya, the chief personal secretary to coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the application for party registration was submitted to the Election Commission with the signatures of all the unifying party leaders shortly after the unification was announced. “An application for party registration has been filed at the Election Commission with the signatures of coordinator Prachanda, co-coordinator Madhav Nepal, and other leaders,” Acharya confirmed.
Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the spokesperson for the Election Commission, officially acknowledged the receipt of the Nepali Communist Party’s application. This procedural step is critical, as the Commission had set a deadline for all parties intending to contest the upcoming elections to obtain their registration certificates.
The party has adopted Marxism-Leninism as its guiding ideology and will use the five-pointed star as its election symbol. A preliminary charter establishes that all members of the uniting parties are now members of the new Nepali Communist Party. It was agreed that a National Unity Convention will be held within six months to formalize the structure.
Co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal emphasized that the party would move forward as a strong force by “correcting past weaknesses and winning back the people’s trust.” He affirmed a commitment to defending the constitution and the republic.
In a direct address to Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Nepal said, “Move ahead with firmness, protecting the constitution. Hold the election on the stipulated time making it free, fair, impartial and peaceful manner.”
The unification brings together a broad coalition, including the CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), and several other socialist and communist factions. Of the ten parties involved in the merger, six were previously registered with the Election Commission, a factor that likely streamlined the registration process for the new, larger entity.
This political realignment occurs in the wake of the September Gen-Z uprising, which led to a significant political transition. The newly formed Nepali Communist Party, by moving with such administrative speed, has positioned itself as a ready and organized contender for the upcoming polls, aiming to become the principal political force in the Himalayan nation.