Former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal met with Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, chairman of the CPN (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, to brief him on his recently launched ‘Socialist Awakening Campaign’. During the meeting, Prachanda expressed positive support for the initiative, while Khanal clarified his continued commitment to the Nepali Communist Party amidst widespread speculation.
The meeting, which lasted approximately 90 minutes, took place at Prachanda’s residence in Manbhawan. Khanal, a former Prime Minister and coordinator of the ‘Socialist Awakening Campaign’, informed Prachanda about the campaign’s objectives and its upcoming programs. Prachanda welcomed the campaign as a positive step.
Khanal’s meeting with Prachanda comes a day after he announced the ‘Socialist Awakening Campaign’ on Monday, October 5, 2026, and declared his departure from the Nepali Communist Party (NCP). During the meeting, however, Khanal explicitly stated his full commitment to the party and expressed dissatisfaction with what he termed “misleading propaganda” regarding his allegiance.
Campaign for Leftist Unity
The ‘Socialist Awakening Campaign’ aims to foster ideological debate among leftist forces, unite scattered communist factions, and build a unified communist party based on revolutionary principles. Khanal has clarified that the campaign is not intended to form a new party or cause a split within existing ones. Instead, he describes it as a “historic starting point” to bring together all honest, patriotic, and revolutionary leftist forces in Nepal and to reorganize the communist movement.
The campaign’s first gathering, held on Monday, October 5, 2026, reviewed the communist movement and passed a 15-point resolution, including a decision to unite fragmented leftist forces. It also decided to initiate ideological debates on socialism tailored to Nepal’s specific context and to advocate for citizens’ fundamental rights, including food, shelter, clothing, education, health, and employment.
Political Review and Future Direction
According to Khanal’s secretariat, the two leaders also reviewed contemporary political issues, recent political developments, and the performance of the current government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah. Specific details of these discussions, however, have not been made public.
Looking ahead, the ‘Socialist Awakening Campaign’ has resolved to continuously advocate for national sovereignty and independence. It plans to push for the sustainable rehabilitation of citizens affected by the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli floods and has urged the government to promptly address the legitimate demands of youth and students. Detailed specific action plans for the campaign’s immediate future have not yet been fully disclosed.
