Lately, Bamdev Gautam, a prominent communist leader, was actively negotiating with the Nepal Communist Party (Socialist Unified). However, within a week, he abruptly changed his stance and decided to rejoin the CPN-UML, his longstanding political home. This marks the second time in Bamdev’s political career that he has exited and subsequently returned to the CPN-UML. Despite his history of wavering stances, this time he has pledged to remain committed to the UML until his demise.
Gautam, the president of the Communist Unification Campaign, has stated that remaining isolated has not fulfilled his goals. Therefore, he has expressed his desire to return to his political home and actively work once again toward the unification of scattered communist forces. “The campaign initiated under my leadership has not yielded the desired results. However, my efforts to unite the communist forces have been widely praised. This time, I will take a more organized approach to achieve communist unification. If full unification is not possible, I will at least work to pave the way for functional unity,” he stated to Nepal News.
Before deciding to return to the CPN-UML, Gautam was engaged in continuous dialogue with the CPN Unified Socialist. However, his desire to hold an executive position within the party could not be fulfilled, as the Unified Socialist leadership was unwilling to grant him such a role. “I observed some issues within the CPN Unified Socialist. They were unwilling to offer me the position I deserved, which led me to finalize my decision to rejoin the CPN-UML,” he said.
According to Gautam, he had been in discussions with the CPN-UML since 2021. However, the process was delayed as the leaders at CPN-UML were not ready for his reentry back then. Although the exact date has yet to be finalized, he stated that this time there will be no ifs or buts about his return to the CPN-UML. “Currently, no information has been provided regarding my position in the party, and no specific date has been set for my return to the CPN-UML. However, this time, I will firmly return to my political home,” he said.
Second innings at UML
At the peak of his political career in 1998 AD, Bamdev formed the Marxist-Leninist Party after splitting from the CPN-UML. Following the split of the Nepal Communist Party, which was formed through the unification of the CPN-UML and the Maoists, Gautam established his own party, the Communist Unification Campaign. Now, he is embarking on his second political innings by rejoining the UML in the latter stage of his life.
In 1997, the parliament endorsed the Mahakali Treaty. Leaders, including Gautam from the CPN-UML, opposed it, labeling it as anti-national. The prolonged contention within the party regarding the treaty eventually led to the split of the CPN-UML. Bold and fearless, Gautam led the process of the split. Following the split, the party known as the Lenin Marxist was perceived as a party of prominent figures but without significant grassroots support. In 1999 parliamentry election, Lenin Marxist did not gain any of the seat held for 205 electorals.
In the 1999 parliamentary election, the Lenin Marxist party did not secure any of the seats out of the 205 electoral constituencies. Following this disappointing result, the leaders who had joined the Lenin Marxist Party under Gautam’s leadership returned to the CPN-UML along with him.
After entering into the CPN UML he was sidelined for a longtime. However, he regained the power during the peace making process. He also played a crucial role in setting dialogue with the than rebel force Maoist. Although he lost in the Constitutional Assembly election, he succeed to gain state portfolio. In a government formed under the leadership of PuspaKamal Dahal he bragged Deputy Primeminister and Home Minister. Gautam also had played crucial role in the unification of the two communist forces, CPN UML and Maiost. Nepal Communist Party was formed in 2019. However, due to the internal power struggle the united force lead to the split following the verdict of the Supreme court in 2021. After the split of the party, Gautam made a move to resign from all the portifolio of CPN UML. In September 2021, he made a spontaneous decision to leave all the portfolio of the party. When the party split in 1997, he initially had control over 40 percent of the party. However, by the time he left the party in 2021, he no longer had significant followers.
After resigning from the CPN UML he initiated a Communist Unification Campaign under his leadership. As his move failed to achieve any significant achievements he made a decision to remain in his old political home. This time he has made a promise of staying in the CPN UML untill decease. ‘Now I will contribute by life to the CPN UML and will not deviate from my ajenda of communist unification,’ he stated to NepalNews.
From being King maker to tapping in unknown territories: What next?
Bamdev has positioned himself as a potential kingmaker in the power dynamics of politics. He has been instrumental in helping others gain power. However, swayed by his own ambitions, the leader is now in ‘Ground Zero’, forced to start all over again.
From helping his party’s leader ascend to the position of Prime Minister to playing a key role in reshuffling key positions within the party, Gautam always hade the upper hand.
While drafting the constitution, Gautam played a key role in providing many leaders with the opportunity to take on leadership positions. There was intense power struggle among the leaders, and during decision-making, the power often shifted to his favor. Particularly, when it came to making leaders the Prime Minister, he took a pivotal role.
A major reason for this was his close relationship (back then) with the Maoist Chairman Dahal, who was a central figure in politics. Dahal’s decisions carried significant weight, whether willingly or unwillingly. Gautam’s friendly relationship with Dahal further strengthened his influence. However, during the power struggle for becoming Prime Minister, Gautam initially worked behind the scenes as a contender. Once leaders became Prime Ministers, however, his ambitions led him to compete against them.
For example, in 2009, after Dahal’s government fell due to the issue of removing the army chief, a coalition government between Congress and UML was formed. Since Jhalanath Khanal was the then-Chairman of UML, he was a leading candidate for Prime Minister. However, Gautam proposed Madhav Kumar Nepal, who had been defeated in two elections but had become a member of the Constituent Assembly through a nominated seat. Nepal himself acknowledged that Dahal played a key role in bringing him to the assembly. Khanal, at that time, did not want to take many risks. Therefore, with Gautam’s proposal and support, Nepal became the Prime Minister.
But after that, a rift developed between Nepal and Gautam. So much so that Gautam openly played a role in attempting to remove Nepal from the Prime Ministership. During the six-day general strike led by the Maoists, Gautam, along with 40 other UML leaders, issued a statement demanding Nepal’s resignation. Although Nepal did not step down, he had to resign from the Prime Ministership on January 22, 2009.
After Nepal resigned, Dahal still held a decisive role, but a government led by the Maoists was not possible due to internal conflicts within the Maoist party and external interference. In this situation, Gautam supported Khanal, helping him become Prime Minister. Dahal also agreed to this.
Following the dissolution of the first Constituent Assembly, the elections for the second Constituent Assembly were held in 2013, and UML became the second-largest party. As the party leader, Khanal had a chance to become the parliamentary leader. However, Gautam put forward Oli as the candidate. Eventually, Gautam’s few votes became decisive, and despite being the party chairman, Khanal was defeated, and Oli was elected as the parliamentary leader with Gautam’s support.
