A politburo member of the CPN-Maoist revealed that the party was on the verge of a vertical split even before its last central committee meeting was held in July. Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun (Ananta) wrote in Janabidroh, 'The party was on the verge of a split. Huge discussions and debates were held but the party moved on.'

Alleging the government of spending a huge amount to cause a split in the party, Ananta wrote, 'The reactionaries were euphoric, the government disbursed Rs 250 million to cause a rift in the party but it remained intact.' Was it spent buying Maoist leaders? Ananta claims that the party emerged united following the central working committee meeting in July. From now on the party will hold debates and discussions for more than a year over proposals to select central members of the party. He dubbed it a 'pure communist exercise of the 21st century'.

According to information received, the July meeting of the Maoists agreed to begin the 'party purification' campaign under which it is said that the central leaders, especially politburo members, would have to donate their property to the party and involve their spouses and children in party activities as well. A Maoist source says that this had irked many politburo members. Even Prachanda conceded through his statements that despite his declaration, grave allegations were leveled against some comrades in the central working committee meeting. Ananta says in his article that the central leaders who faced such allegations were re-evaluating their responsibilities, moral and disciplinary obligations.

Babu Ram Bhattarai was reportedly most 'revolutionary' about donating property and involving their children. As his wife Hisila Yami is already active in Maoist politics and he has lost all personal property. Bhattarai has no problems in getting his only daughter involved in party activities. But Prachanda and leaders like Dina Nath Sharma have kept their children away from party activities and find the 'purification process' a problem. Another rift was over the 'tunnel war' campaign. There is disagreement inside the Maoist party vis-?-vis the party's outlook towards India and the 'tunnel war'.

(Nepalnews.com Translation Service)