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VOL. 28, NO. 23, March 06, 2009 (Falgun 23 2065)
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“If Maoists Improve Their Functioning, We Will Continue To Back This Govt”
Jhalnath Khanal
After a long political campaign, JHALNATH KHANAL finally won the race of president of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML). Khanal, who reportedly snatched the general secretary of the party in 1983 at gun point from CP Mainali, again became secretary general last year when all senior leaders in his party lost the election. Although this time in the eighth convention, there was a controversy following the confiscation of some illegal ballots in the polling site, Khanal is now the elected president of the third largest party. Khanal spoke to media following his victory in Butwal convention.. Excerpts:
What will be the implication to national politics following your victory as a party president?
As we are in the process of constitution making, there will be very nominal implication in national political scenario. We need political stability to promulgate the new constitution on schedule.
Do you mean your party will continue to back the present coalition?
My victory does not necessarily mean the continuation of our support to this government. It will depend upon the behaviour of the CPN-Maoists. If Maoists do not control their cadres and anarchic behaviour, we will withdraw our support to this government. We want to see prime minister Prachanda as a leader of coalition government not as a leader of Maoist government.
You said that there is no alternative to Maoist-led coalition government. What do you mean?
We are in the constitution making process. Thus, it requires some kind of stability in the government. If Maoists follow the politics of compromise and work to build the national consensus for constitution making, this government will last its full term.
Is there any alternative to Maoist government?
The government led by Maoist leader is not functioning successfully. CPN-Maoist needs to change its style of functioning. If Maoists correct their weaknesses, we are not willing to create the instability. Changing the governments frequently invites the political instability which will benefit those forces who want destabilization in Nepal. Our wish is to continue to support this government.
Do you mean CPN-UML has no intention to withdraw the support?
Once again, it is up to the CPN-Maoist leadership. If they improve their behaviour and correct their mistakes, we will continue to back this government. We will observe very closely how this government will behave now.
What will be your political action in case Maoists continue to encourage anarchy?
Then, this government will go. We have already submitted our condition clearly to prime minister Prachanda.
If you are asked to lead the government, what will be your response?
If all political parties want CPN-UML in government, I am ready to lead the government. I have never said that I won’t be prime minister.
As a first elected president of the party, what are you main priorities?
My first priority will be to strengthen the party in terms of organizational and ideological level. I will reorient my party organization to compete as a strong political party. As the country has been passing through a political transition, my second priority will be to build the consensus among country’s all major political parties so that we can shorten this transition period. We need to enhance understanding and unity among all the forces. My another priority will be to work to create proper environment for constitution making, logical conclusion of peace process and restructuring of the state and transformation of Nepal’s economy and society as per the wish of people. Working for economic revolution and strengthening the national unity and integrity is another priority. I will turn CPN-UML as an effective and strong party.
What do you mean by making your party strong and effective?
First of all, I would like to emphasize that CPN-UML is a patriotic, revolutionary and progressive party. Thus, my objective is to reorient the party on that basis. After I came to the leadership, large number of people joined our party and thousands of others renewed their membership. We have 138,000 organized members now. Even those who deserted our party in the past and joined the CPN-Maoist are coming back to our party again. Of course, some of our party members joined the Maoists to protect themselves from Maoist atrocities.
Some of your colleagues have accused you that you are ideologically closer to Maoists. How do you look at it?
This accusation is made by those who have their own vested interest to turn the politics in their own way. These kinds of thinking are held by those weak and helpless persons. I just pity them.
How do you see the statement of your rival leader K.P. Sharma Oli that CPN-UML is moving like a tail of Maoists?
I don’t want to comment on the issues reported by various media. Actually, CPN-UML is in the driving seat pushing Maoists to the back bench. Thanks to our continual pressure, the Maoists have shown a lot of change in their political behaviour. So far as comrade K.P. Sharma Oli is concerned, he is a respected leader of CPN-UML and he has every right to speak pointing at the weakness of the party.
Do you have any differences with K.P. Sharma Oli regarding supporting the coalition government under Maoist leadership?
We don’t have any major differences over supporting the Maoist led government. It was a unanimous decision. Of course, we have slightly different perceptions.
How do you see the accusations Oli that you have added number of non-members in voting list?
In the course of time, I want to listen to the comments made by our colleagues. So far as this CPN-UML’s convention is concerned, this is the convention held following the internal democracy in the party. There is enthusiasm all over Nepal. This is historic convention and we conducted our convention in a transparent manner with democratic spirit.
Don’t you think the time has come to change the name of your party?
We will change name of our party as just Nepal Communist Party. We don’t need the added adjective now.
Your party will continue as a communist party?
We will continue to be a communist party of Nepal. Even communists can exercise democratic practice. This what our convention has shown.
At a time when the communist philosophy is gradually disappearing from the world as a non-democratic ideology, what prompts you to continue your party as a communist party or follower of Lenin or Stalin?
Communism has a long history. This is oldest form of political system which lasted for centuries. It is biased thinking that communists are not democrats. Actually communist are democrats in action and behaviour. There is no question now to change the name of the party. Since CPN-UML is the largest mainstream communist party, we are considering to rename our party as a Nepal Communist Party. This issue was even raised by many delegates during the convention.
