Prachanda says short-term politics weakened Nepal’s communist movement

Kathmandu, August 23, 2026 — Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), has acknowledged that the communist movement lost public trust and political strength after the party became increasingly focused on short-term political calculations rather than its long-term ideological goals.

Speaking at an interaction programme in Kathmandu, Prachanda reflected on the decline of the communist movement from a dominant political force to a more defensive position. He attributed part of the decline to the party’s growing distance from its traditional supporters and its failure to maintain a clear strategic direction.

Prachanda said the communist movement had achieved significant political momentum during the armed conflict because it maintained a clear objective of ending the existing feudal system. However, after the peace process, he said the party’s focus shifted towards the routine struggles of forming and toppling governments.

According to Prachanda, the emphasis on tactical alliances, government formation and competition for political power weakened the movement’s broader political strategy. He also said rival political forces took advantage of these weaknesses and worked strategically to reduce the communist movement’s influence.

He stressed the need for the communist leadership to critically examine its past decisions rather than simply seeking another political arrangement.

Prachanda said meaningful communist unity would remain difficult unless the leadership addressed the mistakes that had weakened the movement and worked to rebuild public confidence.

His remarks come amid continuing discussions among Nepal’s communist parties over cooperation and possible broader unity. Prachanda has previously argued that political cooperation alone is insufficient and that lasting unity requires changes in political approach and leadership.