Nepalese communists at the Centre

Andy Brooks and Shankar Pokharel at the Centre 

by Theo Russell

NCP leader Andy Brooks met a large delegation from the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) who visited the New Communist Party centre in London on 13th  June, led by general secretary Shankar Pokharel. It included leading members from Nepal and Germany who were visiting the UK for a CPN (UML) event in Britain.
Comrade Pokharel spoke about the years of underground struggle under the feudal Panchayat system under which all political parties were banned, and the Council of Ministers and the Federal Parliament were appointed  by the king. That system ended in 1990, and the monarchy was abolished in May 2008 .
Today the CPN(UML) has the largest share of the popular vote, and its chairman, K P Sharma Oli has been prime minister since July 2024 in coalition with the Nepali Congress and three other parties.
Pokharel said that if the CPN(UML) wins the 2027 elections it plans to start laying the basis for socialism and prioritising the needs of farmers and workers. he said that since 1990 the gap between rich and poor has reduced and the percentage living below the World Bank poverty line has fallen from 55 per cent to just two per cent.
The number of girls in school has advanced from very few to equal numbers today and it is now mandatory for a third of parliament members to be women. Many more women are now in positions of political influence.
Pokharel said that Nepal has a number of current border disputes with India, but none with China. The current government aims to maintain good relations with both countries without favouring one over the other.
NCP general secretary Andy Brooks said the party would strengthen solidarity with the CPN(UML), with the people of Nepal and the Nepali community in Britain. The bonds of friendship between the NCP and the CPN (UML) goes back many years and this meeting has been an excellent opportunity to renew and develop ties with our two parties.