Dahal concedes his three mistakes

UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has conceded that he made three mistakes in handing the national politics following the peace process.

Speaking at a programme organised in Pokhara on Wednesday, the Maoist chieftain said he would move forward by learning from the past mistakes.

He said his first mistake was not considering giving the presidential post to late Nepali Congress leader Girija Prasad Koirala after the completion of the first Constituent Assembly (CA) elections.

"We became a little overwhelmed by the result of CA elections, Girija Babu should have been given the president's post and I should have been the prime minister, it was my mistake, I became reluctant to do so," Dahal admitted.

Likewise, Dahal admitted his mistake in trying to sack then Army Chief Rukmangad Katawal. He added that Katawal saga was the result of his immature working style after taking the reins of government. "Obviously, it was our mistake to take action against the Army Chief who was due to retire in three months," said Dahal, adding that it was his party's first experience after coming to the mainstream from underground revolt.

Similarly, Dahal made it clear that his third blunder was to not take the issue of state restructuring for voting after the dissolution of CA.

Accusing the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of betraying despite earlier agreement to carve out 10 states with multiple names, Dahal said, "If I had stood firm on my stand for putting the issue to vote, it would have been possible to draft the new constitution through two thirds majority constitution. But I could not do that."

Dahal, who lauded the role of late NC leader GP Koirala, said that he was the only one of the signatories of the peace accord and that there were both challenges and opportunities to lead the nation.

He said attempts were made to terminate the achievements of the 12-point. "Girija Babu who had contributed for republic is now in heaven but those who are against changes have been trying to drag him to hell," said the UCPN (Maoist) chairman.