Maoist Faction Led by Biplav Returns to Electoral Politics After 12-Year Boycott

Kathmandu. After boycotting elections for 12 years, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) led by Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav' has returned to the arena of parliamentary politics. The Maoist faction, commanded by spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma 'Prakanda', has fielded candidates in 130 constituencies for the upcoming House of Representatives elections.

The then-main Maoist party, which abandoned the armed insurgency for peaceful politics, participated in the first Constituent Assembly elections in 2064 BS. At that time, the Maoists became the country's leading force by winning a total of 229 seats: 120 in the first-past-the-post, 100 in proportional representation, and 9 nominated. However, following a two-line struggle between Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and then-Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya 'Kiran' over the party's working direction, the party split in Ashad of 2069 BS.