UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the departure of party’s senior leader Baburam Bhattarai from the party was premeditated and ill-timed.

Bhattarai’s move served the interests of “reactionary forces”, said Dahal, presenting his political document in the party’s Central Committee meeting on Tuesday. The UCPN (Maoist) Central Committee members were meeting for the first time since Bhattarai parted ways with the party on September 26.

Addressing the meeting, the UCPN (Maoist) chairman said Bhattarai’s defection was a matter of great seriousness for the party because he chose to leave when the newly promulgated constitution was facing criticisms and India imposed an unofficial blockade on Nepal.

Dahal said Bhattarai’s decision to leave UCPN (Maoist) was not driven by personal ambition or temper, but it was a pre-planned affair.

“Baburamji is working to weaken the UCPN (Maoist) in the name of a new political force,” Maoist Spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma quoted Dahal as saying.

 Dahal requested his party members not to make personal attacks on Bhattarai, but expose the truths behind his ideological and political deviations. After quitting UCPN (Maoist), Bhattarai has launched a nationwide campaign to form a new party.

Leaders close to Dahal have been saying that Bhattarai is forming a new political party at the behest of foreign forces.

Revising federal delineation Dahal has underlined the need of addressing the demands raised by Madhesi, Tharu, Dalit, Janajati, and other marginalised communities through constitutional amendments. In his political document, Dahal has suggested amending the constitution to resolve the Tarai crisis.

“Since the Maoist party had highlighted the agenda of marginalised communities, our party should take the initiative of addressing their demands,” Dahal said.

He added that positive discussions were underway between three parties and the agitating Madhes-based parties on demarcation of federal units. Dahal recommended that the report of High Level State Restructuring Commission and State Restructuring Committee of the first Constituent Assembly should be held as the basis for revisiting demarcation.

He suggested incorporating Kailali district and places dominated by the Tharus in Province 5, and reassigning the Province 5 districts of Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan and Rukum to Province 4.

Dahal also proposed realignment of Province 1 districts of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari. These three Tarai districts in eastern Nepal, according to him, could be grouped with Siraha, Saptari and Udayapur districts to form a new province.

On unification between the UCPN (Maoist) and the Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, Dahal said the talks were progressing towards positive direction. He added that merger talks were also underway with other communist outfits. In case the unification efforts with communist forces fail, Dahal said they could at least form a working alliance.

Dahal also said the new constitution, which was drafted and adopted by the people’s elected body, was a major achievement, though there are still some issues that need to be addressed. He said the constitution institutionalised federalism, secularism and republicanism.

“The new constitution has ensured proportional and inclusive representation of women and Dalits,” Dahal said in his document. “The new constitution has ensured the rights of health, education, food security as fundamental rights.”

Meanwhile, Maoist politburo member Lokendra Bista has withdrawn his resignation letter submitted to Dahal.