Six months after unity among Maoist splinter groups that led to the formation of the CPN (Maoist Centre), the party of former insurgents is in disarray as leaders wonder about the fate of their revolutionary party of yore.

The party of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is facing difficulties in holding a meeting of its 2500-member General Convention Organising Committee and mobilising the committees under it. Several leaders have started seeking alternative platforms to build their political career, according to party insiders. Among them are a group of leaders from Province 7. Led by four politicians—party’s secretariat member Khagaraj Bhatta, politburo members Jagat Parki, Bhim Kadayat and Devraj Regmi—a large chunk of the party’s rank and file is in search of better options.

The four-member team recently met Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Naya Shakti Nepal Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai twice and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli once to discuss the political problems in the province.

“All the leaders told us that their respective party would accommodate us and try to address the concerns of Province 7 that we have been raising,” said Bhatta.

However, as soon as Maoist Chairman Dahal came to know about the activities of these leaders, they were invited for a meeting. While there is general dissatisfaction about the party’s functioning, leaders of Province 7 are particularly dissatisfied about their region being “neglected” by the party. There are also grievances about a lack of opportunities for the leaders from the region. Fearing that the party is on the wane, the leaders are in search of options before their career sinks. While the overt move is limited to the leaders from Province 7, there are fears this could trigger a mass flight of leaders from other provinces as well.

“We clearly told PM Dahal everything including about our meeting with leaders of different parties. We are waiting as Dahal has promised us to address our concerns,” he said, adding that the leaders want the words translated into action.

Bhatta questioned if thousands of people had sacrificed their lives and a large number of people suffered just to see a handful of leaders amassing property. The disgruntled leaders have a feeling that the Maoist party no longer engages in the politics of ideology.

“What was the sacrifice for if all our party could do for the neglected region such as Seti-Mahakali is similar to what happened before the war under the NC and UML governments,” asked one leader.