...It is said that the UML and ML will soon unite, although this may take some time because of the personal differences and vested interests of leaders. Many people in the UML and ML want the parties to unite.

The split has hurt both parties badly, as frustrated grassroots workers have moved towards the Maoists. Their vote banks have also been seriously affected. General consensus is that if the two cannot unite before the next year's local elections, the few party workers they have left will join the Maoists.

The UML is much larger than the ML in terms of the size of its cadre, but it does not have strong leaders and consequently, its followers are either plain ineffective, or defectors from other parties. The ML also feels the need for new followers-it cannot carry on forever with a few die-hard leaders like Sahana Pradhan, Bam Dev Gautam, CP and RK Mainali, Ashok Rai- even if they are workaholics. Bam Dev still has the power to motivate workers, people still flock to hear his speeches. The UML won the 1996 local elections because of Bam Dev, this time it may lose because he is not around. This is why the UML is ready to bring the ML back to the fold, whatever the cost. They have realised they cannot take on the Congress single-handedly.

The communists have a majority, or at least a foothold in many organisations. Despite this, they have never been able to fully control any of them, because of fragmentation and personal interests. If they can come together again, they will be a party to be reckoned with, and everyone will benefit.