Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M)

The CPN-M was founded in 1994 by Puspa Kamal Dahal, better known as Comrade Prachanda. It is a splinter group of the revolutionary communist parties alliance called Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Center) established in May 1991, also formed under the leadership of Puspa Kamal Dahal. On February 13, 1996, CPN-M launched an insurgency called the "People's War", with the aim to establish a 'New Democracy' in Nepal and abolish feudalism and imperialism. Apparently, the insurgency was launched because the then government led by prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba could not fulfill the 40 points demands of the communists. The parties' ideology is called Prachanda path. The party ended violence in 2006 and entered a peace process by signing a Comprehensive Peace Agreement with mainstream political parties.

Goals

The CPN- Maoist was formed by the revolutionaries to establish communist society through 'New Democratic Revolution' in the country to liberate the country from feudalism, imperialism and reformists, and to preserve the independence of the country. The party is seeking to win a majority in the Constituent Assembly election to guarantee the implementation of its policies.

Platform

The party adheres to Marxism–Leninism-Maoism as its guiding principle and communism as its goal. Maoists strongly believe in the philosophy of Mao Tsetung that political power comes out of the barrel of a gun. Its main slogan is to consolidate and expand base areas and local people's power and to march forward to build central people's government. The party is committed to establish democracy, adhering to justice and equality. Consolidation of democracy, strengthening people's sovereign rights, changing the socio-economic relation and acceleration of economic development in the country are the major concerns of the party.

The party fully believes in harmony and unity among people of all religions, castes, communities and ethnic groups living in different geographical regions of the country. The party works against any discrimination on the basis of race, religion, caste, ethnicity, sex and geographical region. The party is for economically self sustaining society, full employment and social security for overall welfare of the people.

Summary of manifesto

The CPN-M manifesto states that the framework of a New Nepal will be based on utmost priority to nationalism, federalism and economic transformation of the country.

Its manifesto has proposed a three-tier political structure - centre, autonomous federal states and local bodies - with specific rights and responsibility. It has proposed 11 autonomous federal states and two other sub-states within them keeping in mind the country's ethnic composition, geography, linguistic base and economic viability. Seti-Mahakali and Bheri-Karnali states have been proposed based on their geographical appropriateness, while the rest- Magarat, Tharuwan, Limbuwan, Kochila and Madhes - have been proposed based on the basis of ethnicity. Within the Madhes autonomous state, 3 sub-states - Mithila, Bhojpura and Awadh - have been proposed on linguistic basis.

The party has proposed to make the country's president more powerful than PM, electing the executive president directly by the people while the PM shall be elected by Members of Parliament.

Its manifesto says that there should be a bicameral legislature at the centre and unicameral legislature in federal state. Members of lower house of the central legislature shall be elected on the basis of population. Upper house hall have equal representation from all federal states. The president shall act as the head of the state, commander in chief of the national army and the PM, as the chief executive, shall bear the responsibility of the government and daily administration.

It further says that there shall be three-tier judicial structure- supreme court, high courts and district courts, followed by civil courts and reconciliation centers. The supreme court shall be developed as an institution to resolve serious legal, constitutional and inter-states issues, and disputes between the states on sharing and unitization of national resources and means.

The centre shall have control over the security of international border, military, foreign relations, inter-state policy and central bank customs, revenues, mega hydropower projects, railways, airways and national high ways, and central universities.