CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Pradeep Gyawali has indirectly criticized the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), saying that society cannot be transformed merely by relying on an individual’s charisma without ideology and organization.
Taking a swipe at RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, Gyawali remarked, “Just because a hero stamps his feet, a party cannot be formed.”
Speaking at the launch of UML leader Anand Pokhrel’s book “Foundations of Building a Communist Party” on Monday, Gyawali said that a global trend of undermining ideology and organization has also reached Nepal.
“Today, the belief has spread that ideology, party, and organization are unnecessary—that doing some good work is enough. The illusion is that for transformation, what we need is not ideology and organization, but a miraculous leader who can do everything,” he said.
Hinting at RSP Chairman Lamichhane, Gyawali recalled a prison wall inscription:
“Recently, someone wrote on a prison wall, ‘Every man will be born as Krishna.’ As in a South Indian film, one hero arrives, stomps his feet, the villains fly away, and everything is solved. But that is not how a political party is built,” he stated.
Gyawali also criticized the performance of leaders within his own party. He said many central members and office bearers could not even secure victory in their own wards, yet often made grand statements.
“Some of us may be central members, office bearers, or district leaders, but we can’t even win our own wards. Still, we talk big,” he said, adding, “Our cadres are like kites with cut strings—flying high but without grassroots support.”
Emphasizing the importance of strong organization, Gyawali recalled how even King Mahendra during the Panchayat era built networks in villages through the “Back to the Village National Campaign”—a style borrowed from communist parties.
He concluded by stressing that strong grassroots cadres and direct connection with the people are essential to convey a party’s ideology effectively.
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