KATHMANDU: CPN (Maoist Centre) Deputy General Secretary Janardan Sharma has publicly challenged Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, accusing him of leading the party into decline.

Speaking at the party’s Standing Committee meeting, Sharma blamed Prachanda’s deviation from class commitments, failure to own federalism, and abandoning identity politics for the loss of 3.1 million votes since the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections.

Sharma criticized Prachanda for derailing the party’s good governance agenda by signing a two-point agreement with Nepali Congress and UML.

He said the party’s problems stem from ideological confusion, organizational disorder, and centralized leadership. Sharma proposed a Special General Convention to restructure the party, ensure internal competition, and regain public trust.

While Sharma expressed readiness for self-criticism and any personal sacrifice, he insisted Prachanda must also take responsibility for the party’s failures.

Most Standing Committee members had earlier advised Sharma to self-criticize, but his sharp confrontation with Prachanda signals escalating internal tensions within the Maoist leadership.