Breakaway faction of Nepal's CPN-Maoist announces formation of new party

A breakaway faction of Nepal's CPN- Maoist, which is led by youth leader Netra Bikram Chand, has announced the formation of a new party, the faction leader said on Monday.

Chand cut off his relations with the CPN-Maoist party a week ago.

The CPN-Maoist led by senior leader Mohan Baidya Kiran was formed in 2012 after the split in UCPN (Maoist) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda who waged a 10-year insurgency and came into peaceful politics in 2006 after signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

At a press conference, Chand said his party will struggle to establish the rights of marginalized communities, adding that they should be treated as a rebel force and should get share in the state mechanisms such as executive, judiciary and legislature systems.

Chand, who had been with Prachanda during the insurgency, said their agenda has been sidelined through the investment of money.

However, he said they will not raise any weapons against the state in the near future. "We will struggle to ensure the rights of poor and marginalized communities," he added.

With the two splits, Nepal's Maoist parties are turning weak. In 2008 when they were united, they emerged as the largest party.

At the press conference, Chand also noted that the Constituent Assembly can not promulgate a new constitution. He accused Kiran of not daring to lead the revolution, which had compelled him to split the party.