A political force once known for defying the state is now preparing to contest elections. The Netra Bikram Chand-led Maoist faction, long operating on the fringes of Nepal’s political landscape, has taken a decisive step toward parliamentary politics by registering a new party — the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) — with the Election Commission (EC) to participate in the upcoming March 5 House of Representatives (HoR) election.
On Tuesday afternoon, a delegation led by party spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma arrived at the EC headquarters in Kathmandu to submit the registration documents, marking the faction’s formal entry into Nepal’s multiparty democratic system. According to party officials, the NCP aims to promote a model of “directly-elected socialist federalism.”
Once branded an outlawed group, the Chand-led faction operated underground after splitting from the CPN (Maoist Centre) following the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections. The government banned its activities in 2019 after a series of bomb attacks, including one targeting private telecom operator Ncell. The ban was lifted in March 2021 after the KP Sharma Oli-led government signed a three-point peace agreement, allowing the group to end violent political activities and join peaceful politics.
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The act of registration now carries deep political symbolism — signaling not only a strategic shift but also an ideological recalibration from armed rebellion to electoral participation.
Speaking to Republica, spokesperson Bishwokarma said the party has “four clear reasons” for joining this election:
“First, our ideology aligns with the spirit of the Gen-Z revolution; second, to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty; third, to transform the political system and establish a fully socialist federal state with a directly-elected executive; and finally, to build a peaceful and prosperous nation through agricultural and industrial revolution.”
Earlier, Bishwokarma told reporters at the EC that the new party seeks to align itself with the aspirations of Nepal’s Gen-Z movement, which has reignited political discourse nationwide.
For years, the Chand-led Maoist faction remained outside the parliamentary framework, often clashing with the state over issues of governance, corruption, and inequality. Its decision to join the electoral process marks a turning point — both for the group and for Nepal’s fragmented left-wing politics.
Political observers say the faction’s entry into mainstream politics could reshape leftist alliances and inject fresh energy into debates on youth activism, representation, and systemic reform. For the first time in years, Chand’s followers are not preparing for protest or underground operations — but for ballots, manifestos, and campaign trails.
