Prakash Chandra Pandey ‘Pralok’, a former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) commander who served for years as a close security aide to former Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, has announced his resignation from the CPN (Maoist Centre).
Pandey, who also served as Vice President of the Kathmandu Valley Special Province Committee, made the announcement through an emotional public letter, declaring that he is resigning from both party membership and his association with Prachanda.
In his letter, Pandey expressed deep disappointment, stating that when the Maoist Centre and other leftist forces united, the spirit of the armed struggle was betrayed. He wrote that Prachanda is now surrounded by self-serving individuals and lacks genuine, selfless supporters.
“During times of political gain, they praise you as a great leader, but when there’s nothing to gain, they abandon you,” Pandey remarked, criticizing what he described as an opportunistic circle around Prachanda.
He also lamented that Prachanda’s inner circle now values leaders like Madhav Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal, and Bamdev Gautam more than old comrades such as Kiran, Baburam, Biplav, or Badal, implying a shift away from revolutionary ideals.
Reflecting on his past, Pandey recalled the days when he personally oversaw Prachanda’s security during the insurgency and peace process, from Kamidanda to Kathmandu’s Boudha, Thamel, and Bhaktapur areas.
In a deeply personal note, Pandey remembered Prachanda’s late wife Sita, daughter Gyanendra, and son Prakash, saying that if they were alive, the current situation “would not have come to this.”
“From the heart, I am deeply emotional,” he wrote. “I served as your soldier for years, ready to die for your safety. Today, I feel more alone than ever.”
Pandey’s resignation marks a symbolic break between Prachanda and one of his most trusted revolutionary-era comrades, further highlighting the growing disillusionment within the Maoist ranks.
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