Chitra Bahadur KC, a prominent communist leader known for his critical stance on the CPN-UML’s policy and leadership, has strongly questioned the party’s ideological line. KC, who also chairs the Rastriya Janamorcha, argues that the UML’s doctrine of People’s Multiparty Democracy (PMD) is a deviation influenced by Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s revisionist policies. Despite carrying the communist label, he accuses the UML of implementing the agenda of capitalist and imperialist forces and collaborating with what he calls reactionary forces like the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).
KC believes that without strictly adopting Leninist organizational principles and maintaining a genuine communist character, the UML cannot lead a new democratic revolution. According to him, the party has instead positioned itself as a patriotic democratic force rather than a true communist one.
He argues that the UML lacks authentic communist character, stating, “The people must be able to feel the difference between the Nepali Congress and UML through their actions.”
In an interview with Onlinekhabar journalist Raghunath Bajgain regarding the UML’s 11th General Convention, KC elaborated:
He said it is important to clarify whether UML is truly a communist party. According to KC, when Khrushchev diverged from Leninist organizational principles and embraced capitalist lines, communist parties around the world—including Nepal—were influenced. “We consider the UML a patriotic democratic force that fought for democracy and republicanism, but we do not call them a communist party,” he said. “Just adopting the communist name does not make a party or individuals communist; their behavior and character must reflect it.”
KC argued that the UML abandoned the foundation of communist ideology long ago, beginning with the era of Madan Bhandari. He said Bhandari’s People’s Multiparty Democracy—claiming to achieve socialism through parliamentary majority—was a clear deviation from communist principles, aligning instead with Khrushchev’s revisionist path.
Responding to questions about power and electoral strength, KC said that true communist evaluation is based on ideological correctness, not the number of seats. He emphasized that a party growing in numbers does not prove ideological purity, citing Rastriya Swatantra Party’s rapid rise as an example.
KC also criticized UML’s history of alliances with reactionary monarchist forces like the RPP. He said that UML repeatedly supported such forces despite their anti-democratic positions, including giving the prime ministership to Lokendra Bahadur Chand in the 2050s. “If UML had not supported RPP, the party would have faded away,” he claimed.
On nationalism, KC acknowledged that UML has sometimes taken strong positions. However, he criticized the party for supporting the MCC agreement, saying, “Communists do not carry the agenda of imperialist powers. If they do, what difference remains between them and the Congress?”
Asked about leadership change in the UML, whether KP Sharma Oli or Ishwar Pokharel takes charge, KC said it would not make much difference because both remain committed to the same ideological line of People’s Multiparty Democracy.
KC argued that UML should learn from historical communist movements, explaining that strict adherence to Leninist organizational principles enabled Vietnam, China under Mao, and North Korea under Kim Il-sung to resist American imperialism. He said that if leaders like Ho Chi Minh or Mao Zedong had embraced a line similar to PMD, they would never have succeeded.
As a communist leader familiar with UML’s history, KC said he considers the party a patriotic democratic force with organizational reach, but not a communist one. He urged UML to embrace strict Leninist discipline if it wishes to contribute genuinely to the communist movement. “Using Lenin’s name without applying Leninist principles misleads the people,” he said.
KC added that while UML has fought for democracy and republicanism and occasionally taken strong stands on nationalism, its ideological deviation, internal contradictions, and cooperation with reactionary forces undermine its claim of being a communist party.
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