Home> About UML > Oplarisation & Intergration

Polarizations and Integration

Several serious efforts were made for the revitalization of the Party. These efforts created a chain of events towards polarization and integration in the Nepalese Communist Movement. Comrade Pushpa Lal formed a separate group in 1968 hoping to restore the unity and revolutionary activities of the Party. In 1971, a radical peasant movement was organized by a section of the Party in Far Eastern part of Nepal called Jhapa district. The Jhapa movement created conducive environment to bring various revolutionaries from different parts of the country together and formed the All Nepal Communist Revolutionary Coordination Committee (Marxist-Leninist) in 1975. Its main goal was to build a unified communist party and movement in the country.

The unification process gradually gains momentum and the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) - CPN (M-L) was established in 1978 and Comrade C.P. Mainali became the first General Secretary of the Party. It was a major event for the reorganization of the Party, which played vital role in the unification movement. It influenced all other groups including the group formed by Comrade Pushpa Lal, which was led by Comrade Sahana Pradhan after the demise of her husband - Comrade Pushpa Lal and the group identified as the 'CPN Fourth Congress'. The 'Fourth Congress' group polarized very fastly in conflicting views and divided into various groups leaving it in complete disarray. Subsequently, emergence of various left groups and their merger in the CPN (M-L) went on speedily. In 1982, after reorganization of the Party, Comrade Jhala Nath Khanal was elected the General Secretary of CPN (M-L). The CPN (M-L)'s Fourth Congress was held in 1989 and Comrade Madan Kumar Bhandari was elected the General Secretary of the Party. In the 80s various campaigns were organized by the Party such as consolidation and ratification of the Party and correction of the past mistakes. Various mass organizations were formed to widen, strengthen and deepen the political struggle.

In 1986, Comrade Man Mohan Adhikari and Sahana Pradhan joined hand together in establishing the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist) - CPN (M). Seven different Communist Parties and groups, including the CPN (M-L) and CPN (M) came together to launch a mass struggle against the Partyless Panchayat system under the banner of the United Front in 1990. After the establishment of the multi-party system in 1990, the CPN (M-L) and CPN (M) unified as the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN - UML) - in January 1991.

The Fifth National Congress of the CPN (UML) was held in January 1993 in Kathmandu. This Congress was a milestone in the history of the communist movement of Nepal, which was convened in an open and democratic atmosphere and observed by many foreign political leaders. The Congress adopted the People's Multi-Party Democracy as the political program of the Nepalese revolution which was propounded by Comrade Madan Bhandari, who was killed later on in a mysterious car accident on May 16, 1993 together with Comrade Jeev Raj Ashrit, then Chief of the Organization Department and member of Standing Committee. The Fifth Congress also approved new Party Constitution with well-defined organizational structure. Comrade Man Mohan Adhikari and Comrade Madan Kumar Bhandari were elected the Chairman and the General Secretary of the Party respectively. After the great loss of two leaders, Comrade Madhav Kumar Nepal was elected the General Secretary of the Party, who is so far carrying out his responsibilities.

The Sixth National Congress of the Party was convened on 25 - 31 January 1998. Tumultuous and unstable national political situation appeared in the country after 1993 left unpredictable impact on the Party too. Even after the thumping majority to the Party program and policies and success of the National Congress a faction disobeyed the decision of the Congress. Disregarding the supremacy of the National Congress the faction split the Parliamentary Party of the CPN (UML) on March 5, 1998 and formed CPN (ML). Realizing the mistakes the CPN (ML) has reunified with the CPN (UML) on March 15, 2002. The Sixth National Congress elected the Central Committee comprised of 35 members and Comrade Man Mohan Adhikari and Comrade Madhav Kumar Nepal as the Chairman and General Secretary respectively.