Coordinator of Naya Shakti Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai, has remarked that anti-federalism forces are bent on aborting the agenda of federalism.

Speaking to journalists in the headquarters of his home district on Sunday, leader Bhattarai said those who are against the change, federalism, republic and secularism are in the race to take the leadership of old system.

"Mainly CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli is on the frontline of the campaign to abort the federalism and others are following in his footsteps,” said the former prime minister, claiming that the premonition he had during the promulgation of new constitution is gradually turning into reality.

The current problems have surfaced due forceful effort to carve out seven states in the country against the 10-state proposal suggested by the Constituent Assembly's State Restructuring Commission. "The problems will be resolved if the issue of federalism is finalized as per the spirit of the commission's report," said leader Bhattarai, who quit the Maoist party after the promulgation of new constitution.

The former Maoist leader said that he had warned Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba and UML Chair Oli when they were weighing options to conduct local body elections under the existing structure. "I have toiled my entire life fighting for federalism, secularism and republicanism," said the leader, "I will caution them if they try to back down from these achievements."

Leader Bhattarai also expressed his dissatisfaction for labeling Madhesis as Indians. "This has made middle-path leaders from Madhes weaker and empowered leader like CK Raut who advocates disintegration," said Bhattarai. "The tendencies of so-called nationalist and CK Raut are two sides of a coin."

He further said that India has intervened in Nepal’s affairs because of Nepali leaders’ failure to unite. At a programme organised by student union of Naya Shakti at Gorkha Campus, Bhattarai said it wouldn’t be prudent to put off the entire process arguing that the constitution should not be amended.